Around the city...

New Well

A new well for Blaine’s water system is not living up to expectations, so the old one will stay in service. “It’s doable, not ideal,” said Blaine public works director Steve Banham. The new well’s pump equipment is now being installed and Banham said it will be in service before the summer increase in water demand. It was intended to replace a well whose output has diminished from the 400 gallons per minute (gpm) allowed by the water right to about half that due to increased sand coming into the well at high pump rates. However Banham said they can only get 200 gpm out of the new well without drawing the level down too far. “Each well is different. It’s a different spot in the aquifer,” he explained. He added this wasn’t an indication of a weakening aquifer. “The influence of the two wells upon each other indicates the aquifer has good water in it,” he said.
By keeping both of the wells in service Banham said the city can pump the amount of water allowed under their water right to meet the city and Birch Bay’s demand for water in what looks to be a dry summer.

“This has turned out to be a pretty dry year and if it continues we’ll also be looking at conservation,” Banham said. “We’ll be asking people to curtail their irrigation as our first step,” he said.

Annual Cleanup

The Blaine annual cleanup is scheduled for next weekend. On May 14 dumpsters and recycling bins, courtesy of Blaine Bay Refuse, will once again take up positions on C Street between 3rd and 4th streets so that local residents can get in a little spring cleaning. The city’s cleanup project for this year is the ballroom upstairs at city hall, that has become a repository for the city’s discarded items. “I went to prom up there,” said mayor John Liebert, who with other city council members will join staff sorting the historical from the disposable.
Plover funding

The city will guarantee funding for the Plover ferry’s operating season this year, but will be asking that ferry riders start paying their way.
City manager Gary Tomsic reported on a meeting with Drayton Harbor Maritime representatives looking for solutions to meet the ferry’s funding shortfall. “We arrived at some solutions,” Tomsic told Blaine city council April 18. “I think they will allow the Plover to come to a funding level to meet their needs this year.” He said ferry managers had agreed to more actively seek donations, starting with setting a minimum recommended donation to ride the Plover between Semiahmoo and Blaine Harbor marina. However, the donation is not a required fare to ride the Plover. “One of their goals is to make the experience available to local people, especially the children,” Tomsic said. If the Plover program does not raise enough money to cover expenses the city has agreed to make up the shortfall with hotel/motel tax funds.

Recognition Night
On Tuesday, May 24, Blaine high school will be having their annual recognition night. This is an opportunity for teachers to recognize these students who have excelled in their classrooms. This is also the time when local scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors.
Sponsored by the honor society, it will be held in the Blaine performing arts center at 6:30 p.m. Entertainment by the band department will be provided along with refreshments. The community is invited.

For information, you can contact the high school office at 332-6045.

Run for the border
There were 13 finishers for the 1.5 mile kids fun run with Andrew Price from Blaine elementary taking first place, and Shaypher Hendricks in third overall.

Other local kids running in this event were Isabel and Jacob Finston, Bryce Kamrath, Ashlyn Morgan, and the Hansen sisters Rachael, Emily and Jessica. Of the 24 finishers for the 5K open race Blaine’s own Stephen Fraser and Carey Bacon came in first and third respectively in the men’s division, and Melissa Galbraith first in the women’s division.

Despite this year’s small turn out, the event was well received by all, according to organizer Dan Persse. Thanks to this year’s local supporters (Blaine Chamber of Commerce, COAST Physical Therapy, Nature’s Path, Whatcom Physical Therapy, and the YMCA) over $1200 was raised for the Girls on the Run program.