August 2019
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Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
A race to the finish like no others WUTC to review Cando’s rates By Meg Olson Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) staff will be visiting Point Roberts in coming weeks to see how the changes to the garbage system are working and whether or not prices need to be adjusted. The visit is part of a new compliance filing due August 15 the WUTC required of Cando Recycling and Disposal when it approved a new rate structure for the company last November. The new rates reflected projected volumes resulting from a 2018 county ordinance that made a minimum service level of garbage collection mandatory with service fees collected from all properties with septic permits. The WUTC is requiring compliance filings in 2019 and 2020 to make sure the rates reflect the cost of providing the service and are fair to users of the system. “I am expecting them at any time and we are ready for their visit,” said Cando owner David Gellatly. “They will reevaluate the rates and decide whether there needs to be an increase or a decrease. With recycling commodities in flux they will likely do a review on those rates every year.” Gellatly said the company currently can only sell its metal recyclables, which earn $140 per ton but constitute only 6 percent of the recycling stream. The company pays to dispose of all other recycling commodities. “At the beginning of 2019, it cost $237 a ton to dispose of recycling materials.” Gellatly said some users, especially Canadian residents, expect recycling disposal to be free because it is north of the border. “In Canada they pay a deposit and an environmental fee on bottles and cans and that’s what funds those programs,” Gellatly said. “We don’t have deposits and environmental fees on containers in Washington. Perhaps we need to look inwardly in Washington and do something like our (See Cando, page 3)
s With no hands, this group of intrepid watermelon eaters vie to show how fast they go through fresh watermelons at Kiniski’s Reef Tavern on July 4. Photo by Louise Mugar
Charity awards major grants to local organizations By Meg Olson A California charitable organization has awarded over $150,000 in grants to local organizations. Thanks to a connection with a local seasonal resident, the board of the Helen and Jose Colton Foundation visited Point Roberts in July for a week, according to local foundation spokesman Hugh Wilson. “They like to find communities where they can really get the most bang for their buck
and Point Roberts fit the bill,” Wilson said. The foundation’s mandate is to fund causes that support children, animal welfare, seniors and veterans. The Point Roberts Volunteer Firefighter’s Charitable Foundation received a grant for $60,000. “The majority of the grant will be used to purchase and disperse new automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and cardiac monitors,” said fire chief Christopher Carleton. One AED will be added at Umpqua
Register to vote for August 6 primary election By
Jami Makan
The August 6 primary election is approaching, giving voters a chance to vote for candidates running for various offices in Whatcom County. Offices up for primary election of interest to Point Roberts voters include Whatcom County executive, Whatcom County Council district 5, and Blaine school district director districts 2 and 4. The goal of the primary election is to
narrow the field of candidates. A primary election is only held for offices for which three or more candidates have filed. (Exceptions are park and recreation districts and cemetery districts; positions for these districts advance directly to the general election.) After a primary election, the two candidates with the most votes continue on to the general election, which takes place on November 5. Those who wish to vote in the primaries must be registered to vote. One can reg-
ister online at sos.wa.gov. A Washington state driver license or ID is required. Alternatively, one can print and mail registration forms, which are available in a variety of languages. A third option is to visit the Whatcom County auditor’s office during business hours, where a clerk can assist with the registration process. The office is located at 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 103 in Bellingham. It is open Monday through (See Primary, page 5)
Bank and several older models throughout the community will be replaced with new ones, Carleton said. “They are fully automatic units so they can be used by a person with no training.” The grant will also purchase a new LifePack15, a cardiac monitor and defibrillator used by emergency medical personnel. The Point Roberts Emergency (See Grants, page 3)
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Church ............................................... 8 Classifieds ......................................... 20 Coming Up ....................................... 21 Obituaries ......................................... 19 Opinion ............................................... 4 Seniors ............................................. 18 Tides ................................................. 16