March 27 - April 2, 2025
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Public comment opens on Treoil cleanup, page 3
Rally held at Peace Arch, page 4
State warns of Good To Go! text scam, page 5
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Blaine girls golf hosts first home meet Blaine City Council: UGA land swap, Canadian relations and the Plover By Grace McCarthy
(See City, page 2)
APRIL 4-6
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s Blaine junior golfer Hannah Phelps-McDonald hits an approach shot onto the green of hole five at Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club on March 25. See more Borderite sports on page 7. Photo by Nolan Baker
Blaine school board approves third year of cuts By Nolan Baker For the third consecutive year, the Blaine school board has approved budget cuts that will tighten the district’s already barebones budget by $3 million. The cuts will eliminate roughly 46 positions, merge first and second grade classes from Blaine Primary School into Blaine Elementary School, cut all C-team high school sports, and significantly reshuffle school district administration. In a 4-0-1 vote, the board approved the recommended budget reduction, which included cuts to four department directors in the district office, two assistant principal positions, four assistant coaches and 16 certified staff positions. Erika Creydt abstained from the vote, citing a lack of
board discussion and preparation. Blaine school district superintendent Chris Granger said seven transition to kindergarten positions could be reinstated with proper funding from the state, and 10 other positions will be added in the next school year. While each school board member and Granger said the decision to cut more staff is never taken lightly, Granger said it’s now the “unfortunate reality” of public education funding in Washington. “While this is not our preferred method, nobody at this table or on this team wants to do any of things represented in this plan, but it is a lack of funds from the state that causes these local decisions to (See School, page 3)
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The latest news from the Blaine City Council meeting on March 24 includes the city’s proposal to swap its urban growth area from east Blaine, a resolution to support continued partnership between Blaine and Surrey, B.C. and an update on the Plover ferry’s repairs. Urban growth area land swap proposal Councilmember Richard May asked city staff if the city had made more progress on its proposal to de-annex its urban growth area (UGA) in east Blaine and add a significant portion of UGA land near Semiahmoo. City manager Mike Harmon said the city was working with engineering consultant David, Evans and Associates to determine how much it would cost to add utilities to the proposed UGA area in west Blaine. While the work is still in the early stages, Harmon said the cost for the sewer system could be around $20 million, though he cautioned that was a preliminary number. “It’s not looking ideal,” Harmon said. Despite developers being responsible for part of the sewer costs, the city would likely need to put in four sewer lift stations, which Harmon said wouldn’t make sense with the city’s current sewer rate. He added the sewer conveyance that runs from Semiahmoo to the Lighthouse Point Water Reclamation Facility in Blaine Harbor likely doesn’t have the capacity to handle much more development. “Once you trigger another sewer conveyance across the bay, things start to get real expensive real fast,” he said. Harmon said he expects to bring a recommendation to council in April. City staff first presented the preliminary plan to council in October. The plan would de-annex Grandis Pond, once slated to bring about 1,000 homes to east Blaine, and add 460 acres of UGA land south of Semiahmoo. It would also
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