May 2024
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Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
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Hospital district war of words, page 10
Wrong turn leads to B.C. Supreme Court, page 7
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County paid $225,000 to settle sexual harassment complaints By Brandon Block/ Crosscut.com Whatcom County officials paid $225,000 last November to settle claims that a former public works director sexually harassed a female employee for more than two years. Jon Hutchings resigned in lieu of termination in October 2022, just one day before a third-party investigator interviewed three female employees who reported Hutchings had made sexual comments to them or touched them inappropriately while at work. But county leaders never formally disciplined Hutchings or adjudicated the complaints. And they helped him get a new job, writing a favorable “letter of introduction.” “It has been a pleasure working with Jon and I am very confident that he will serve your organization well,” the letter concludes, signed by county executive Satpal Sidhu and deputy executive Tyler Schroeder. As part of the agreement of Hutchings’ departure, county leaders also agreed not to disclose information about his misconduct to future employers. Hutchings now runs the public works department for the city of Lynden. He did not respond to a request for an interview. Lynden’s city code requires department heads to be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council. Mayor Scott Korthuis did not respond to multiple calls (See Payout, page tjohnson;Seattle;Clean Air Comfort Systems;C33432;10x2-4c (24No) 6)
s Lori Shantzis, c., a professional chef/clown/artist and PREP board member, won first place in the PREP Chili Cook Off in late March. The winning chili recipe was born from Shantzis’ extensive experience living overseas and knowledge of MesoAmerican cuisine. Stephen Falk, r., won second place while Ray Smith, l., took third. The event, held at Kiniski’s Reef Restaurant & Bar, was a benefit for PREP.
Photo by Sara Oggel
Wrongful death lawsuit partially settled for $8 million B y P a t G r u bb Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Robert E. Olsen approved a settlement on April 19 between the two children of Murray Church and Gail Amundsen and three out of five defendants accused of negligence in the couple’s deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning. Amundsen, 61, and Church, 67, were found dead in their home on Thanksgiving Day evening in 2021. The two were asphyxiated when an improperly installed boiler blew off a vent fitting and released carbon monoxide into their newly constructed home. The pair were discovered by family friends who were asked to check on them after their children had been unable to
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make contact with them for several days. Andgar Mechanical, Ferndale, general contractor Optimum Contracting and Shoreline Electrical Services, both of Point Roberts agreed to settle for $8 million in total. Andgar, who failed to convert the boiler to use propane fuel, will pay $6 million while Optimum and Shoreline will pay $1 million each. Two other parties, Triangle Tube/Phase III Company, New Jersey and Whatcom County were not part of the settlement and the lawsuit against them will continue. Triangle Tube was the maker of the boiler while the county signed off on the occupancy permit of the couple’s newly constructed home even though contrary to state law, no carbon monoxide detectors
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