Some of the latest news around Blaine and Birch Bay includes North Whatcom Fire and Rescue (NWFR) going out for a levy lid lift, Whatcom County being dismissed from the Birch Bay Waterslides lawsuit, Blaine utility rates increasing, and the Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 creating a nonprofit.
NWFR is expected to decide on the levy lid lift amount it will place on August primary ballots during its February 19 meeting.
This comes after the NWFR Board of Commissioners approved the district going out for a levy lid lift during its January meeting.
Voters last approved a levy lid lift in 2006, but the fire district has struggled to receive voter support for another increase since. The district’s last attempts were in August 2024 and twice in 2021.
Fire chief Jason Van der Veen has previously said the levy is critical for the district to improve response times, staffing and aging infrastructure. The district serves Blaine, Birch Bay, Custer, Laurel and areas outside of Lynden.
The next NWFR board meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. February 19 at Station 61 in Blaine, 9408 Odell Road, and can be streamed on YouTube, @NorthWhatcomFire.
A Whatcom County Superior Court judge recently dismissed claims against Whatcom County brought by a Skagit County man who was severely injured at Birch Bay Waterslides in August 2023.
In a January 26 judgement summary, judge Lee Grochmal dismissed the claims against the county with prejudice, meaning the claims are permanently terminated from the suit.
The plaintiff, Larry Baker, spent nearly two weeks being treated for leg injuries at Harborview Medical Center’s intensive care unit in Seattle after his legs went through a slide panel. Baker filed the lawsuit in May 2024, and later added the county, arguing the county had the duty to inspect, document and oversee permits for the waterpark’s operation.
Washington has state regulations to enforce standards for water park maintenance and operations but doesn’t require water park owners to submit those records to either the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) or county health departments, the lead agencies tasked with water park oversight, according to previous reporting from The Northern Light.
The DOH Water Recreation Program reviews water park design and construction but leaves annual inspections up to county health departments. County inspections don’t include waterslide structural integrity or safety; the water parks are responsible for those inspections, which are typically done by third-party contractors.
Claims continue against Birch Bay Waterslides, Safe Slide Restoration and Kingworks Consulting Engineers.
A new nonprofit called Friends of Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 is seeking directors to lead the organization aimed at supporting the local parks district.
Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 (BBBPRD2) announced the nonprofit in a February 1 newsletter, saying the directors would work to fill gaps in public funding with private partnerships. Funding would go toward the district’s mission of creating recreational opportunities and preserving natural and recreational resources for the community.
Those interested in applying are encouraged to contact BBBPRD2 executive director Heather Lindsay at heather@bbbprd2.com.
In an effort to modernize its payment systems, the city of Blaine has launched an online utility billing portal that allows customers to pay their bills online for the first time.
The portal offers people the ability to set up automatic payments and view their utility consumption. To set up an online account, customers need their account number and the payment amount on their last invoice.
The portal can be accessed through the city’s website. For more information and step-by-step instructions to create an online account, visit the city’s website at bit.ly/3MnMTtH.
Blaine customers may have noticed higher utility bills in January that surpass what it typically costs to keep their homes and businesses warm through the winter.
That’s because Blaine City Council voted late last year to increase rates for utility usage starting in November, which were seen in the January billing statement. The rate increases are 17.5 percent for water, 10 percent for electric, 10 percent for stormwater and 2.5 percent for sewer.
The sewer increase was based on a 2021 rate study, while the water and electric increases were from a 2015 study. The 10 percent stormwater increase was made from calculations by city staff.
Utility rates, most notably water, have progressively increased over the past few years to mitigate years of city council not increasing rates with inflation. In 2022, council began increasing the water rate by 17.5 percent annually, an increase that was planned to continue through 2025. The average utility rate increase was 3 percent, according to previous reporting from The Northern Light.
The city is in the process of hiring a contractor to conduct a new utility rate study that will recommend future increases. Rates from each utility pay for their own operations, maintenance and capital fixes.
The city recommends people who need utility bill assistance contact Opportunity Council at 888-586-7293 and oppco.org/utilities, or contact Community Assistance Program at 360/392-8484.
