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<h2>Letters to the Editor -- November 01, 2003</h2>
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 Published on Sat, Nov 1, 2003
<br/> Read More <a href="/letters">Letters</a><BR/>
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<p>LETTERS TO                 THE EDITOR<br>                <strong><br>                The Editor:</strong><br>                The predictions by Messrs Mansfield, Calder and Lloyd as to how                 the interlocal agreement would affect us have played out so beautifully                 it�s as if the North Whatcom Fire & Robbery Service followed a                 carefully crafted script. The extreme folly of this merger was                 clearly pointed out before the last election. Unfortunately the                 scare tactics of the current commissioners worked. (Bill Meursing                 is not implicated here. Thank goodness for Bill�s voice of reason.)<br>                They intimated that unless we join the NWFRS Interlocal Agreement                 and throw masses of taxpayers� cash at it, bang goes any service                 and we�ll all be dropping like flies. What twaddle! Let�s not                 throw good money after bad! <br>                Bruno Moras stated the financial facts quite succinctly in October�s                 All Point Bulletin. Please review at least that, and vote no to                 the NWFRS tax grab on the November ballot.<br>                <strong>Sue Johnson <br>                Point Roberts </strong></p>              <p><strong>The                 Editor: </strong><br>                Your last issue on the fire department�s tax grabs and bankruptcy                 was excellent and I am sure you could have filled more pages on                 their misdeeds and misadventures. <br>                Perhaps we could bill their meetings as the Curly, Larry and Bill                 show and may I say, thank you for Bill! Some people commented                 that you had finally put a picture of one of the commissioners                 on the front page, I personally did not find those comments funny                 and I think it was degrading to the donkey. I believe that this                 donkey could do a better job for less hay. <br>                Speaking of hay, I think that I have finally figured out their                 formula for paying administrators. Since this paid chief fiasco                 started, the less experience and qualifications, the more you                 make. I would like to put my name forward for the next chief�s                 position; I have little firefighting experience, no medical training                 and very little desire to work at all; so I feel $100,000 per                 year to start would be acceptable, plus benefits of course! On                 the tax increase, they must think the voters of Point Roberts                 are stupid and they are probably basing that on the fact that                 they got elected, but that old saying, �You can fool some of the                 people some of the time...� will kick in and my aspirations to                 be chief will be dashed. But what the hell, I only want what�s                 best for the whole Point anyway. <br>                <strong>Ron Calder <br>                Point Roberts </strong></p>              <p><strong>The                 Editor:</strong><br>                This is a letter that is long overdue. My wife, Pat, and I want                 to let the people of Point Roberts know how much we appreciate                 their sharing this great little community with us. We live in                 Tsawwassen, but have moored our boat at the Point Roberts Marina                 since 1992. We love everything about the place, but mostly the                 people. <br>                Our experience with the Point Roberts Marina has been that all                 of their people provide a level of service that have made it a                 pleasure for us to be a tenant. The marina is also home to an                 outstanding marine service by the name of Westwind. Buzz and all                 his staff have proven a level of competency and efficiency that                 is second to none. They provide an excellent service and have                 always been available when we needed them. <br>                With regards to restaurants, we frequent the Dockside, South Beach                 House and Brewster�s. Each of them offers a high level of service                 and a delightful variety of food. People like those who work at                 the Blue Heron Gallery, the Marketplace and the post office are                 also responsible for our considering Point Roberts to be a �second                 home.� <br>                All in all, Point Bob is a location that deserves to be included                 as a destination port for both Canadian and U.S. boaters. This                 unique little community with nice people and nice shops deserves                 to be listed. <br>                <strong>Mel C. Marshall<br>                Tsawwassen, BC</strong></p>              <p><strong>                 The Editor: </strong><br>                I find it hard to find the right words to describe the wonderful                 help I got from my neighbors when I lost my husband of many years                 on October 6. Carol Tan and Pam Sarkissian who spent many hours                 supporting me; Bob and Mai Jorge and others who were there for                 me; Nick Kiniski and the men in the fire department who couldn�t                 have been kinder; and deputy sheriff K. Emmons who made every                 effort possible to help me out. <br>                Point Roberts is a great place to live. <br>                <strong>Phyllis Rose <br>                Point Roberts </strong></p>              <p><strong>The                 Editor: </strong><br>                Many thanks to the Point Roberts marina for donating a fax machine                 to the senior center and to the fireman�s bingo and my neighbors                 Lars and Caroline for the computers and monitors.<br>                Point Roberts has a history of always passing the parks levy and                 it is our hope that there will be a good voter turn-out on November                 4 and lots of yes votes on the levy. Besides maintaining Baker                 Field and the community center, library and senior center, the                 levy supports the children�s summer program and the seniors Friday                 program for 2004. <br>                <strong>Armene Belless <br>                Program director, Point Roberts Senior Activity Center<br>                Point Roberts </strong></p>              <p><strong>The                 Editor: </strong><br>                In last month�s issue of the All Point Bulletin a very interesting                 article by Alare Burr Ramos mentioned the destruction by fire                 of the Waters Tavern and dance hall at Boundary Bay in 1935. It                 was stated that Emma Burns died as a result of the fire. This                 is not true. Emma Burns Ludwigson died in the summer of 1943 when                 she and her newish red Ford convertible lost a race with a railroad                 locative. I remember the night she died, as her sister-in-law                 Bernice (Bunny) and I were at the Maples when the phone call to                 Whalens store (they had the only phone on the east side of the                 Point) was received advising us of her death.<br>                I worked for Emma and her brother Eggert at the Maples at the                 time and Emma�s death was a genuine tragedy. She, her husband,                 and Eggert owned another store in Puyallup which was a very successful                 clothing business. During the summer Emma would transport dresses,                 bathing suits and notions up to the Maples and they formed a very                 large part of the sales activity. Emma Burns Ludwigson was hard                 working and successful and a quite demanding employer. <br>                The Burns acquired the Water Store site after the fire and built                 another dance hall cafe which operated under different names,                 the last of which was the No Dice. <br>                The Waters fire also resulted in the destruction of three cabins.                 Two of these cabins had been built around 1910 by pioneer members                 of the Ladner family. Following the fire, no beer or wine could                 be sold in Boundary Bay until the 1950s when the Haggen store                 people of Bellingham bought the Maples. They later sold it to                 Tom Clark who changed the name to Clarks. As a mater of interest,                 the first Maples store was also destroyed by fire in 1931 and                 was replaced by the present building the following spring on the                 same site. <br>                As near as I have so far determined, the woman who died when the                 Waters Pavilion, as the store and dancehall was called, burned,                 was the lessee and operator, a Mrs. Provency, who was sleeping                 in the quarters at the rear of the building and who was severely                 burned. <br>                <strong>Don Meikle <br>                Point Roberts</strong></p>              <p><strong>                 The Editor: </strong><br>                I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the fine EMTs                 we are so fortunate to have in Point Roberts. On October 16, I                 needed emergency care that also included a transport to Delta                 Hospital. I appreciate the promptness, the excellent care, and                 the expertise demonstrated under chief Kiniski�s guidance and                 direction. I truly feel that residents of Point Roberts should                 continue to support our emergency medical team, many of whom are                 skillfully trained volunteers. Thanks so much. <br>                <strong>Maureen E. Hofstedt <br>                Point Roberts </strong></p>              <p><strong>The                 Editor: </strong><br>                Alongside many others we read with horror and disgust the over                 80 percent tax increase proposed by fire commissioners Lofquist                 and Frantz which will put Point Roberts in the top five highest                 tax districts in the county. <br>                The facts are: <br>                1. Sumas, 13 square miles, population 1,100, taxes $60,000. Point                 Roberts, 4.5 square miles, population 1,300, taxes $207,000 These                 figures check out as correct. <br>                2. Commissioners approved an unsecured loan on Lynden property                 putting Point Roberts� taxpayers on the hook for $85,000. This                 is unlawful and although being investigated by the state auditor                 needs action by the state attorney general. The Lynden facility                 is in default and there is no money to pay the owners. Payments                 due November 2002 have not been made. We as taxpayers must be                 sure Lofquist and Frantz pay out of their own pockets for any                 liability they incurred on behalf of taxpayers. Since what they                 did is illegal a suit against them would be successful, although                 the matter can probably be handled by the state attorney general�s                 office. Already $15,000 has been removed from Point Roberts� funds                 by the North Whatcom Fire and Rescue Services (NWFRS) board over                 the last two months. <br>                3. The NWFRS have admitted they may be faced with voluntary or                 involuntary bankruptcy and have been terminating employees, but                 the Point Roberts commissioners want to hire two full time firefighters.                 <br>                It should be clear to everyone that what we have is an unmitigated                 financial mess. Common sense will tell taxpayers that Lofquist                 and his �yes man� Frantz are responsible and have shown their                 total incompetence in the job they were elected to do. <br>                Do not believe that this will be the last request for a tax increase                 from these jokers. Lofquist has declared the tax money we have                 been paying as �a free ride.� We have given money to the fire                 department and Lofquist and Frantz have burned it. Any further                 funds voted will also be squandered by them. In addition to this,                 the mess we have been landed in could well call for large sums                 of money to bail out Lynden and NWFRS which will not be covered                 by the Lofquist-Frantz proposed tax increase. <br>                As a retired successful businessman it only took Meursing one                 meeting and one month to find out that our participation in NWFRS                 is a total disaster and a financial boondoggle. What we need as                 commissioners are people with business brains, not people with                 no brains.<br>                At the time of the decision to take our fire department �off-shore�                 and put many of the decisions in the hands of others who are not                 even remotely connected with Point Roberts, many thought the arrangement                 might work. This has not happened. NWFRS has become a giant bureaucracy                 which has made incredible blunders and incurred enormous liability                 for Point Roberts� taxpayers. Lofquist and Frantz are unable to                 see the time has come to get out of the NWFRS before the taxpayers                 here are ripped off even further. When they came to office they                 had a $300,000 reserve which has already been significantly eroded.                 It�s time for Lofquist and Frantz to resign. <br>                Point Roberts has always had a volunteer fire department which                 has always run well � just as well, and in some respects better,                 before the merger than since the merger. Any story that not voting                 for the tax increase will endanger lives is political sleaze at                 its worst. Point Roberts ran, and can still run, a volunteer fire                 department without any affiliation with NWFRS. <br>                This leads to the question of how to vote on the proposed 80 percent                 plus tax increase which is on the ballot as Point Roberts Fire                 District No. 5 Proposition no. 1 authorizing property tax levies                 for fire district no. 5 and the answer is vote no � answer 134.                 Do not throw money at people who had already mismanaged your money.                 <br>                Finally, the other question is how to vote on the Whatcom County                 tax levy for emergency medical services. Medic One does not apply                 to us, but passage would generate $104,000 for our fire department.                 What horrifies us is that this money will get into the hands of                 the irresponsible Lofquist and Frantz. You will have to make your                 own judgment on this. <br>                With a resounding no on Point Roberts� proposed massive property                 tax increase we would expect Lofquist and Frantz to resign, to                 go, and to make way for people who have a modicum of common sense                 and financial responsibility. <br>                <strong>Gordon Hepworth, M.D., <br>                FRCSC, FACS, Emeritus Professor Surgery, and <br>                Rilla S. Hepworth <br>                Point Roberts </strong></p>              <p><strong>The                 Editor: </strong><br>                It has been a privilege to serve for eight years on the Point                 Roberts park commission. I believe the park commission has focused                 on both programs and maintenance. Baker Field is used by groups                 for baseball and soccer. The park and Blaine school district arranged                 for the new school. The community center offers programs and activities                 for the whole community: library, scouts, boards (park, voters,                 taxpayers, water, chamber of commerce), clubs: quilting, historical,                 dollars for scholars and non-profit groups. <br>                We are required to charge for groups that charge. The seniors                 now use it one day a week and the levy on November 4 ballot will                 help cover the cost of another day. Young people have a summer                 program, arts and crafts (library support). We installed a new                 swing set. We plan for a skateboard park and bocce field.<br>                Maintenance of the center and Baker Field includes the cost of                 insurance, supplies, utilities, lawncare, cleaning, garbage, telephone,                 and repairs to the building. The regular property tax levy in                 the November election pays for these costs. Please vote yes for                 the levy. <br>                Thank you for your votes on November 4. <br>                <strong>Bev Griffith <br>                Point Roberts </strong></p>              <p><strong>The                 Editor: </strong><br>                On November 4 we have the opportunity to choose the next port                 commissioner for Whatcom County. Candidate Jim Jorgensen is the                 person of choice. Jim has lived, worked, volunteered and raised                 his family in Whatcom County for more than 40 years. He was the                 driving force behind the creation of Blaine�s Marine Park, built                 on the city�s old garbage dump site. He started the first clean-up                 day involving students in northwest Whatcom County. As an educator                 not only did he teach science he also coordinated an advisor,                 advise program between teachers and high school students. Working                 with the Washington State Fisheries Department he started a salmon                 enhancement for Dakota Creek. Jim is not only concerned about                 the environment but also about jobs and industry in all of Whatcom                 County. <br>                Even though every article that is published about the incumbent                 includes accusations of conflict of interest and improprieties                 while serving as a commissioner, Jim stated from the beginning                 of the campaign that he was running on his own merits and he has                 done that!<br>                I encourage you to vote for the person who will serve us best,                 the person of highest moral integrity, Jim Jorgensen. <br>                <strong>Stan Bianchi <br>                Blaine </strong></p>              <p><strong>The                 Editor:</strong><br>                Proposition 1, which authorizes our fire district to increase                 our property tax levy from 78 cents to $1.44 per $1,000 of value,                 has become a lightning rod for a number of fire district issues,                 including our current interlocal agreement with North Whatcom                 Fire and Rescue Services and whether we should stay in the organization                 or go it alone. <br>                Let�s assume the measure does not pass and Point Roberts fire                 district 5 does withdraw from the NWFRS. If that happens, Point                 Roberts taxpayers � American and Canadian � need a clear accounting                 of the extent of reductions in fire and medical services that                 will result. These services have a direct bearing on our property                 values, insurance rates and whether or not prospective businesses                 and families will choose to locate here. A reduction in EMS and                 ILS services will also have a bearing on whether older residents                 will wish to stay. <br>                The levels of service expected from our fire district were the                 subject of extensive community meetings in Point Roberts throughout                 2001. The result was the strategic planning initiative, endorsed                 and supported by every community organization in Point Roberts.                 <br>                That plan was the blueprint for the level of fire district service                 that we enjoy today. It was clear from the start that we could                 not maintain the cadillac service we all wanted without an eventual                 increase in our property taxes. It was also clear that we could                 not depend on bingo revenues to finance capital expenditures forever.                 <br>                The one constant has been the steady increase in the costs of                 maintaining a professional fire district and the increasing number                 of individuals in Point Roberts that are going to need more �                 not less � of the emergency medical services provided by our fire                 department. I think the current interlocal agreement was well                 conceived, but has been badly executed. If it is a bad deal, I                 trust the judgment of our fire commissioners to withdraw. But                 the present and future needs of our fire district will require                 increased funding if we are to continue to have the level of service                 we have come to expect from our fire department. <br>                <strong>John Lesow<br>                Point Roberts</strong></p>              <p><strong>                 The Editor: </strong><br>                On November 4, a moment in the voting booth and your vote will                 make possible the construction of a Point Roberts pier at the                 end of Gulf Road. The last item on your ballot is the place where                 you can make the pier happen. Vote yes (ballot #225) for the formation                 of a �Point Roberts Park and Recreation Area.� The ballot item                 description does not mention the word �Pier, �only Exhibit A at                 the county council. This is confusing, for sure! <br>                The results are not confusing. Enough yes votes at ballot #225                 will create the organization to maintain the Point Roberts pier,                 once it is built with the assistance of the Port of Bellingham.                 Insufficient yes votes will mean we will probably never have a                 pier in the average lifetime of those who live in Point Roberts                 today. <br>                Permitting cannot proceed (a $1,700,000 value for Point Roberts)                 until the Point Roberts Park and Recreation Area is formed. When                 the pier is actually built (some one to three years from now)                 all taxpayers in Point Roberts will be assessed for the cost of                 maintenance of the pier over the years. This cost is estimated                 to be a maximum of $45,000 per year or an assessment of $15 per                 $100,000 valuation for the average Point Roberts house. For many                 property owners the cost will be less, for others, the cost will                 be more. <br>                No one will be assessed until the pier is actually under construction                 and built. Maintenance costs will include: insurance, routine                 cleaning and repairs, and a fund to be set aside for major repairs.                 <br>                What will the Point Roberts taxpayer receive for his or her annual                 expense? <br>                1. A focal point long desired for our community. <br>                2. A place for everyone to enjoy the beautiful views, interesting                 and varied marine traffic and the display of passing whales and                 other sea life. <br>                3. A place where children of all ages can learn about nature and                 the interesting history of Point Roberts and the surrounding Canadian                 and U.S.A. lands and waters. <br>                4. A legacy for generations to come. We look forward to enjoying                 the Point Roberts pier with you in the near future. Your yes vote                 at the bottom of the ballot (#225) will make it happen. <br>                <strong>Knick & Lyn Pyles <br>                Point Roberts </strong></p>              <p><strong>The                 Editor: </strong><br>                I am writing regarding the port commissioner candidate debate                 held on October 14. It was obvious that Ginny Benton is very aware                 of the economic development needs of Point Roberts. She has done                 her homework time and time again. She has also insured that Point                 Roberts receives the port�s assistance. <br>                At the forum, Ginny clearly expressed knowledge and understanding                 of the port�s obligations and plans. Her opponent clearly demonstrated                 a lack of understanding concerning port operations and issues.                 Even when pressured by Ginny to take a stand on any port issue,                 he failed to take a stand or even name a serious issue presently                 before the port. <br>                I urge you to vote for experience, knowledge and proven results.                 Vote for Ginny Benton on November 4. <br>                <strong>Richard E. Brendley <br>                Birch Bay </strong></p>              <p><strong>The                 Editor: </strong><br>                Point Roberts today, tomorrow the rest of the county, seems to                 be the planned philosophy of the Howkum county council. This community                 has been singled out to have a tree retention ordinance. A property                 owner may cut down all his trees in order to build, provided he                 replants 30 percent. He may be required to post a bond in the                 amount of 125 percent of the value of the trees. Who places the                 value? Does weed alder have fire wood value? Is eeny meeny miney                 mo used to decide who must be bonded? Will the permit process                 now involve some tree cops to enforce this regulation? A whole                 new profession has evolved from such inane and restrictive ordinances.                 Folks make a good income assisting land owners in getting applications                 processed to use their property. The only thing not requiring                 a permit is paying our taxes. <br>                This county should quit making more laws and sunset those which                 exist while they clean out their law closet. Many should be discarded                 and others rewritten in Dick and Jane language.<br>                <strong>Ruby White <br>                Point Roberts </strong></p>              <p><strong>The                 Editor: </strong><br>                The pier project scares me. OK, I am an admitted pessimist and                 my view is probably very much in the minority. Since no one else                 seems to have raised concerns with building a pier, I feel obliged                 to do so.<br>                In my humble opinion, the project will either succeed, or it will                 fail. In either case, it is bad news for the Point Roberts lifestyle.                 The promoters of the pier tout its construction as a catalyst                 for economic growth. And it will cost us taxpayers almost nothing.                 This is not quite true. Apparently a grant can be secured with                 the promise of the electorate to maintain the structure. What                 is never spoken is that the �grant� is our money too. Yes, the                 taxbase is spread out over a larger segment of population, but                 it is still our money. Has anyone been paying attention to the                 growing deficit in Olympia and Washington D.C. ? I think that                 spending taxpayers money on this project (which we have to borrow)                 is quite irresponsible. <br>                The �maintenance cost� is next to nothing as well, apparently.                 The promoters are downplaying the real cost. Any marine structure                 requires high maintenance. One only has to visit Lighthouse Park                 to see the havoc the winter weather plays with the floats at the                 boat ramp; or see the pier adjacent to Georgia Pacific in Bellingham.                 I can see exponentially escalating costs which will burden us                 taxpayers in the future. If the pier is built, the promoters will                 be back in a few years with hands out for an additional levy.                 What if the pier project manages to achieve its objective? Thousands                 of tourists will flock to see this marvelous wonder. Hundreds                 of people will be employed serving food, beer, and selling T-shirts.                 We�ll be just like White Rock or Steveston. Parking meters will                 be installed on Gulf Road - half an hour maximum stay. Traffic                 lights at major intersections. Additional sheriff�s deputies on                 bicycles. More traffic, more congestion, longer lineups at the                 border, more noise, more garbage - and hey! Maybe a taxpayer funded                 sewage plant! Real estate values will skyrocket, and the average                 guy will be forced out - just like in White Rock, and Steveston                 and Friday Harbor. Is this what we want?<br>                <strong>Holger Michelsen <br>                Point Roberts </strong></p>              <p><strong>The                 Editor: </strong><br>                If you were to consider the money involved in the fire levy as                 a gamble, there are people who will simplify it for you with words                 to the effect that, �All life�s a gamble. You gamble your life                 every time you cross the road!� It�s difficult to argue with logic                 such as that. However, in this case, you are truly gambling with                 your life and the lives of your loved ones. The cost of maintaining                 our medical and fire protection has gone up over the years. So                 has every other factor in our lives. The last major increase in                 fire taxes was years ago. State laws have restricted fire taxes                 to a maximum increase of one percent per year. That doesn�t keep                 up with inflation! <br>                Anyone who manages a household budget knows that you can�t buy                 anything at last year�s price. Neither can the fire and rescue                 service. That�s the plain fact of the matter. They need more money,                 if only to maintain the present service that we enjoy. The response                 to a call is most often about four minutes. We want to keep it                 that way. If a person has a stroke or a heart attack, those four                 minutes may be the most critical moments of their entire life.                 <br>                I was rushed to the emergency room three times last year. I�m                 fairly certain that on the third occasion, without the benefit                 of the very fast and efficient response of chief Kiniski and the                 volunteers, and without the excellent medical expertise they�ve                 gained through years of training, I would probably not have survived                 to transport myself to the hospital. <br>                The simple point here is: Every blessed thing in our lives costs                 money and the cost of these things increases with time. It�s impossible                 to turn back, or stop, the economic clock and still maintain what                 we�ve come to expect, round-the-clock service. <br>                All life�s a gamble, but don�t let other people play dice with                 your life. You can increase the odds in your favor by getting                 out and backing the fire and rescue service�s request for money.                 Are the lives of your family worth just a few dollars more a month?                 That�s how much is involved. I think that�s very economical insurance                 and assurance. <br>                <strong>John Fisher <br>                Point Roberts </strong></p>              <p><strong>The                 Editor:</strong><br>                I want to thank Point Roberts volunteer fire department for their                 amazing response time and assistance during my medical emergency                 on October 17. A special thanks to fire chief Nick Kiniski, Bill                 Skinner, John Shields and Fred DeHaan for their kindness. Also                 a grateful thank you to the awesome guys from Medic One out of                 Bellingham. <br>                <strong>Helena Biga-Furno<br>                Point Roberts </strong></p>              <p><strong>The                 Editor: </strong><br>                There have been complaints lately about the possibility of an                 increase in funding our fire and emergency medical services. Let�s                 take a minute to look at our other public services. <br>                Water district - annual budget of approximately $500,000 with                 2.5 full-time positions and approximately $88,000 in salaries.<br>                Sheriff�s department - annual budget unknown at this writing,                 but we have two full-time resident deputy sheriffs with a salary                 and benefit package amounting to $122,448. This does not include                 the cost for two patrol cars, or family residences for each deputy.                 <br>                Fire and emergency medical - the current budget is $274,460 with                 one full-time employee. We are unable to provide coverage 24/7.                 We need more staff. In the event the fire and EMS levy passes                 the fire district�s total revenue would be $488,074. The proposed                 budget for 2004 would include salaries for three full-time employees                 and give us coverage 24/7. <br>                When it comes to funding public services we never hear complaints                 about how much the water district charges for water or how much                 the sheriff�s department spends. Somehow, however, whenever the                 fire district wants more money to improve our emergency medical                 and fire services, there are always a few who think we don�t need                 a first class service. They generally change their mind when it                 is their turn to dial 911.<br>                Don�t confuse a desire to have good fire and emergency medical                 service with the possibility of a consolidation in the future                 with North Whatcom Fire and Rescue Service. The fire tax levy                 is about providing more money to fire district 5, so we can have                 more and better service. <br>                Life is short and life is precious. I believe that 24/7 fire and                 emergency medical services is a priority.<br>                <strong>Don Frantz <br>                Point Roberts </strong></p>              <p><strong>The                 Editor:</strong><br>                We would like to thank the administrator of North Whatcom Fire                 and Rescue Service and the commissioners of fire district No 5                 for hosting the October town meeting on the proposed tax levy.                 Members of the Point Roberts Taxpayers� Association Board attended                 the meeting to better understand the apparent necessity for a                 sudden, large increase in the tax levy and determined if we would                 support the issue for the November ballot. We have known for some                 time that an increase was on the way. The Taxpayers Association                 was presented with the fire district�s long-range plans back in                 2000, prior to the formulation of the 2001 strategic plan. The                 2003 strategic emergency plan was prepared through public input                 to establish the community�s expectations for emergency services.                 At our 2000 annual general meeting, our membership passed a motion                 in support of the proposed improvements to emergency services.                 <br>                Our membership voted for improvements in ambulatory response times,                 personnel training and emergency health services and they voted                 with the full knowledge that these improvements would come at                 the price of increased taxes. <br>                We congratulate the fire/emergency staff and appreciate the excellent                 work volunteers have provided. They have met or exceeded the citizen�s                 expectations on a regular basis. We know many families that have                 received the services of these expert medical personnel and know                 that lives have been saved through their efforts. <br>                Recently, the taxpayer�s board requested specific information                 from the fire district commissioners so that we could better understand                 the apparent need for a large increase in the tax levy. Disappointingly,                 no response has been received to date. Following the town hall                 meeting, we still have many unanswered questions. <br>                At the meeting, fire administrator Dave Crossen was very clear                 that regardless of the outcome of the November ballot, fire department                 business would carry on. But, at what level of service? None in                 attendance could answer this question. Some responses by Mr. Crossen                 and the three commissioners were difficult to understand or appeared                 to be conflicting. As we understand it, current revenues are about                 $200,000 per year. A new EMS levy, if approved by voters, is likely                 to provide an additional $104,000 to the district. However, the                 commissioners and Mr. Crossen did not appear to take this new                 source of funding into account. Another potential source of funds,                 suggested by a member of the audience, would be to implement some                 form of user fee. Currently, emergency services are offered free                 of charge to the user/insurer. It appeared that all possibilities                 were not being considered. <br>                Answers to questions of expenditures were also vague. Although                 certain commissioners quoted replacement costs of $500,000 per                 fire truck and $100,000 per ambulance, everyone agreed Point Roberts�                 equipment was in excellent condition and not in need of replacement.                 At present savings for future large expenditures is proceeding                 at a modest rate, with this year�s estimated savings to be $54,000.<br>                Another program expenditure the department would like to implement                 is a volunteer sleeper/resident program. This could ensure that                 ILS trained personnel are available in the future. Currently only                 four members are qualified. <br>                While we hoped to gain clarity on the issues of costs, revenues                 and benefits of the proposed fire district tax levy, we left the                 town hall meeting with many unanswered questions. At this time,                 the Point Roberts Taxpayer�s Association cannot support the proposed                 increase in the fire levy to $1.44 per $1,000 nor can we support                 the proposed merger with the Northwest Fire and Rescue Service.                 It is appropriate for the fire district to ask for an increase,                 but an increase of this magnitude does not seem to be justified.<br>                In recent years, the Point Roberts fire district has consistently                 provided high quality service to an appreciative community. The                 Taxpayers� Association Board will continue to work with and support                 the community and the fire district on the difficult task of maintaining                 and improving those standards in years to come. <br>                <strong>Michael Rosser <br>                on behalf of Point Roberts Taxpayers Association<br>                Point Roberts</strong></p>                            <p><strong>Letters                 Policy </strong><br>                The All Point Bulletin welcomes letters to the editor; however,                 the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor.                 Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number                 for verification. Letters must not exceed 450 words and may be                 edited or rejected for reasons of legality and good taste. <BR>                <FONT size="3" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><IMG src = "/static/archives/2003/nov2003/images/10x8_trans.gif" width="25" height="8"></FONT>A                 fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers                 will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid                 personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for                 publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered                 on an individual basis.<BR>                <FONT size="3" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><IMG src = "/static/archives/2003/nov2003/images/10x8_trans.gif" width="25" height="8"></FONT>Thank                 You letters should be limited to ten names. <BR>                <FONT size="3" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><IMG src = "/static/archives/2003/nov2003/images/10x8_trans.gif" width="25" height="8"></FONT>Only                 one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be                 published.<br>                </p>              <p>Please send                 your letter to: P.O. Box 1451, Point Roberts, WA 98281<br>                or fax (360) 945-1613.<br>                E-mail:<a href="mailto:editor@allpointbulletin.com">editor@allpointbulletin.com</a>                 </p>                            <p><a href="#top">BACK                 TO TOP</a></p>
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