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Pier levy to receive public hearing

By Rebecca Schwarz Kopf

Whatcom County Council has voted unanimously to set a public hearing to discuss an election date for the proposed Point Roberts Special Recreation Area, a pier at the end of Gulf Road.

The council first reviewed the pier project back in November, after the Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce submitted a petition for it to be on the ballot. If the project is approved, by voters and council, the pier would cost an estimated $45,000 a year in maintenance, an equivalent of 15 to 17 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value. However, residents would not be paying taxes on the project until after completion.

Funding for the project is still ongoing, and the Port of Bellingham has committed to helping find grant funding sources. The pier project has received a federal grant of $40,000, and $10,000 in cash and donations has been used for a biological assessment and feasibility study, which are now complete.

Before passing the item 7Ñ0 at their January 28 meeting, council member Barbara Brenner moved to amend the resolution saying, ÒBe it further resolved that Whatcom County is not responsible for future funding of the pier.Ó The council amended it 7Ñ0, then passed it unanim-ously.

The hearing has been scheduled for February 11 at 7 p.m. at the Whatcom county courthouse. The courthouse is located at 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham. For more information, call 360/676-6700 or visit www.co.whatcom.wa.us.

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