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April 2024

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Hospital district undercurrents, page 3

New uses for border gas tax? Page 6

ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14

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Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local

Going door-to- Spring has sprung! door for solar power B y P a t G r u bb Local resident Shauna Sylvester and parks district chair Stephen Falk spent the month of March giving presentations to local groups and taxing districts asking for them to support a solar grant application for a program being offered by the Washington state Department of Commerce. The grant program was announced in late February with an application deadline of April 5. The community decarbonization program targets vulnerable and at-risk communities. Sylvester is the organizer of Resilient Point Roberts: Going Solar and has teamed up with the parks district to pursue the grant opportunity to fund a feasibility study for solar backup power for the Gulf Road community center, the adjacent Point Roberts Library, the firehall, water district offices and health clinic on Benson Road. Trinity Church which is used as a shelter during emergencies would also be included in the feasibility study. Although the program does not require matching financial contributions, community investment is considered advantageous. The parks board has committed $5,000 while the fire district has provided a $10,000 contribution. Speaking at the water district’s monthly commissioner meeting on March 12, Sylvester projected the cost of the study would be between $100,000 to $150,000. “Our ask is three-fold,” Sylvester said. “Do you want the feasibility study done on the [water district] building and the reservoir, because that’s a potential setting for, according to [consultants] Cascadia Renewables, probably the best setting of all in Point Roberts.” The other two requests included a letter of support and possible funding. Water district chair Scott Hackleman expressed reservations on the practicality of using solar backup power for the district. “I mean, to put a solar array on the building just so we can keep the lights on, it would seem a little overkill. The only really vital thing is to provide water. We’re not responsible for keeping the office open if there’s a power outage but we are re(See Solar, (24No) page 2) tjohnson;Seattle;Clean Air Comfort Systems;C33432;10x2-4c

s Gardeners – here’s your chance to get some fresh starts for your flower and vegetable gardens. Darlene Gibbs of Ladybug Nursery has been putting in the hours so you don’t have to! Photo by Louise Mugar

WTA, Circle of Care team up on van service B y P a t G r u bb The Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) and Point Roberts non-profit Circle of Care have teamed up to provide two round trips to Bellingham and two to Blaine per week on a one-year trial basis. The agreement would be in lieu of regular WTA service and would be reviewed at the end of six and twelve months. The service is scheduled to start in April. Under the agreement, WTA has ‘surplused’ a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan, a seven-passenger van currently in the WTA fleet and transferred the title to Circle of Care. In addition, WTA has agreed to pay

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Circle of Care a total of $45,000, paid in advance quarterly installments. The funds would be used for operation and maintenance support of the van, including “to pay for such items as fuel, maintenance, insurance, registration, advertising, wages to drivers, and any other such operating costs,” according to the draft agreement drawn up for the WTA board of commissioners. In turn, Circle of Care will be responsible for hiring and training drivers at a wage rate it deems “fair and reasonable.” The agreement also allows the group to pay for a scheduler to manage trips. WTA (See Circle, page 3)

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Church ............................................... 9 Classifieds ......................................... 12 Coming Up ....................................... 11 Crossings .......................................... 13 Obituary ........................................... 12 Opinion ............................................... 4 Seniors ............................................. 13 Tides, Library picks ......................... 14

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