May 2018
www.AllPointBulletin.com
Cottages at Seabright expect lots of construction, page 3
IN THIS
ISSUE
Dollars for Scholars deadline approaches, page 5
County parks gets ready for the season, page 7
ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14 Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
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Hospital district director Robin Nault resigns B y P a t G r u bb
(See Hospital, page 6)
s Paul Beauchemin, the newly hired golf pro and manager of the Bald Eagle Golf Club at Point Roberts, is looking forward to an exciting year as the refurbished golf course prepares for an imminent re-opening on May 20. See story on page 13. Photo by Louise Mugar
Town hall meeting spurs plenty of trash talking B y P a t G r u bb Close to 100 people turned out on a Saturday morning for a townhall discussion of a proposed mandatory solid waste pickup service that would go into effect next January. Held April 14 at the Gulf Road community center under the auspices of the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee, the meeting was chaired by Whatcom County Health Department staffer Jeff Hegedus.
Hegedus gave a brief overview of the specific challenges trash handling would have in Point Roberts such as low population density and remoteness from the rest of the county. He also described the process behind the development of the proposal to institute mandatory collection, pointing out that the county had received 314 responses to a community survey that was created to solicit residents’ views. “For two years we’ve done our best to work with the com-
School bond levy passing with 52.8 percent of votes By Oliver Lazenby Second-day results from the April 24 special election show the Blaine school district’s $12 million, six-year capital projects and technology levy easily passing. With 4,290 ballots counted, the levy was passing by 52.76 percent after the most recent count at 12:45 p.m. on April 25. It needs a 50 percent yes vote to pass. The school district was seeking the levy to raise money for a variety of maintenance
and replacement projects that the district said are too expensive for the school’s general fund. The first projects the district plans to tackle with levy funds are building a new high school grandstand, installing field turf at the high school and purchasing property for a future Birch Bay school. Other levy-funded work includes roofing, painting and flooring projects throughout the district, stage improvements for the Performing Arts Center, ren-
ovations at Pipeline Fields and technology upgrades throughout the district. The results aren’t official until Friday, May 4. The school district would begin collecting money in 2019. The capital projects and technology levy would cost taxpayers 51 cents per $1,000 of home value annually and raise $2 million a year from 2019 to 2024. The district levy was the only issue on (See Election, page 2)
munity. At this point, it’s time for county council to consider our recommendations and we’re about 6-8 weeks away from that step,” he said. Speaking from the audience, Ken Calder complained about the lack of notice given to the community for the town hall meeing, a complaint that was echoed by others. (See Town hall, page 8)
Church . . . . . . . . 17 Classifieds . . . . . 20 Coming Up . . . . . 16 Crossings . . . . . . 13 Obituary . . . . . . . 19 Opinion . . . . . . . . 4 Seniors . . . . . . . . 18 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 12 Library . . . . . . . . 18 Sheriff . . . . . . . . .18
INSIDE
For the second time in a month, the Point Roberts Hospital District has seen the departure of a valued and experienced key member. Speaking at the district’s regular meeting on April 4, Robin Nault told the board, “It is with much regret that I officially resign from my position as commissioner.” Just last month, superintendent Elaine Komusi announced her intention to resign. She agreed to stay on until a successor was hired for her position. Nault explained that she had received Canadian residency status sooner than she had expected and consequently would no longer satisfy residency requirements to be a commissioner. Nault’s husband is Canadian and the two will live in Tsawwassen. “I recognize the timing is not ideal. Hiring a new superintendent as well as appointing a commissioner is a lot of change in a short period of time,” Nault said. “I wish to assure [the district] and the public of my continued support of the district,” she said, adding she would still attend the district’s meetings. Nault plans to maintain her residence and full-time hair styling business on the Point. Nault expressed gratitude to those who had voted for her and said she stood behind each and every decision she had made
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