March 2 - 8, 2023
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IN THIS
ISSUE
Final plat approval for The Ridge’s division II, page 3
Harmon finishes first month as city manager
Boys basketball moves on at state, page 7
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Bills aiding domestic violence victims, page 13
Living Pantry awarded business of the year
By Grace McCarthy
(See Harmon, page 5)
s From l.; Living Pantry co-owners Seppi and Shawna Morris and Blaine Chamber of Commerce president Tim Woodard celebrate Living Pantry winning business of the year at the chamber of commerce’s annual general meeting at Great Blue Heron Grill on February 23. The Morrises opened Living Pantry at 684 Peace Portal Drive during the middle of the pandemic. After seeing success from Whatcom County’s first zero-waste store, they went on to open another location in Bellingham in fall 2021 and opened a third storefront in Fairhaven on February 9. See more on page 15. Photo by Grace McCarthy
City council approves sending east Blaine taxing district study to state for feedback By Grace McCarthy In a narrow 4-3 vote, Blaine City Council approved sending a study on creating an east Blaine taxing district to the Washington state treasurer for feedback. The taxing district, known as a tax-increment financing district (TIF), could help the city fund $3.5 million worth of infrastructure needed to develop the east Blaine subdivisions of The Ridge at Harbor Hills, East Harbor Hills and Grandis Pond. The city’s approval of sending the TIF
study to the state does not guarantee that a TIF district will be established. The state has 90 days to review the study and is expected to return its feedback by May. Council will then need to consider the state’s recommendations and vote whether it wants to establish a TIF district before June 1, per state requirements. If council is unable to make the decision by June 1, it will need to wait another year to establish the district. In fall 2021, former city manager Michael Jones first brought TIF to city coun-
Whatcom County Council OKs stop signs at Birch Point Road, Birch Bay Drive intersection By Grace McCarthy Two stop signs expected to be installed at the intersection of Birch Bay Drive and Birch Point Road within the next month have Birch Bay residents concerned over safety. Whatcom County Council voted 7-0 during its February 21 meeting to establish stop signs at the intersection, just north of Birch Bay Village, for southbound traffic
on Birch Point Road and for westbound traffic on Birch Bay Drive. The speed limit is 35 mph. Council followed public works staff’s recommendation that the signs were needed for traffic control as housing construction continues at Horizon at Semiahmoo. Birch Point Road will serve as a second fire access road for the subdivision, which is expected to bring 540 units to the 149-acre property between Birch
Point Road and Semiahmoo Parkway. Councilmember Carol Frazey asked Whatcom County traffic engineer Doug Ranney during the February 21 public works and health committee meeting if he had heard feedback from community members since the ordinance was introduced February 7. He said he hadn’t heard anything but anticipated input. Frazey (See Stop signs, page 3)
cil’s attention after the Washington state legislature passed a law allowing cities, ports and counties to establish TIF districts earlier that year. TIF can be used as a financial tool to fund publicly owned infrastructure needed for planned developments in areas that historically haven’t had much economic development. “We believe without infrastructure, very little development would happen in the area,” said Bob Stowe, the city’s TIF (See TIF, page 6)
INSIDE
Michael Harmon is finishing his first full month as Blaine city manager after starting the job on January 16. Harmon, with six years of experience under his belt in city management, has taken the position during a time when Blaine is facing major challenges and changes. These include a $7 million sewer project to replace dilapidated pipes, extensive housing projects in Semiahmoo and east Blaine, a long-anticipated overpass project at Bell Road and Peace Portal Drive that is on tap for a go for federal funding. The city is also anticipated to dip $1 million into its reserves this year. A Fairfield, Iowa native, Harmon earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Northern Iowa and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of South Dakota. Harmon worked as a police officer in Pierre, South Dakota and for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security before becoming the city administrator of Fairfield, a city of 9,600 people. Harmon then went on to become the city administrator of Spearfish, South Dakota from 2017 to 2021. In the city of 12,300 people, he oversaw 125 full-time staff members and a $42 million operational budget. He did a brief stint as the chief operating officer of electric utility provider High Plains Power in Riverton, Wyoming, before taking the job as Blaine city manager. Harmon moved to Blaine with his wife, 10-year-old son and two-year-old daughter. The Northern Light interviewed Harmon and asked about his plans and hopes as he embarks on a new challenge. Responses were edited for length and clarity. Q: How has your first month gone as Blaine city manager? The first month has been a whirlwind of information about Blaine and certain Washington laws, coupled with some projects that have some tight deadlines such as the Bell Road grade separation application for federal grant funds and the east Blaine tax-increment financing district (TIF) project. It’s been very busy but the transition
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