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News

April Utility Bill Includes an Adjustment for Calculation Error

The city regrets to inform the public that there was a calculation error in the last billing cycle (Feb. 28th) that affected approximately 2,500 residential customers. It did not apply the correct average to the sewer charge which resulted in some bills being higher and some bills being lower in the Feb. 28th billing cycle. To fix that, this cycle’s bill includes an adjustment, either a credit or an additional charge, to fix that mistake.

But the bigger mistake was not including an explanation in the bills of this adjustment. That is on us, the City, and we apologize. The last couple of months have been hectic but that is no excuse, the public deserves the best from their local government and again, we apologize for not communicating about this adjustment.

Beyond that, bills are slightly higher than last year. The City conducted a rate study all last year to rebalance our utility bills and secure funding for our needed utility projects (the new deep well head and expanding the wastewater and water treatment plants). More information about that process is available here. As a result, the average household bill increased by approximately $30 per cycle. If a customer uses more than the average household’s worth of water, it may have been a higher increase.

It is worth remembering that with so many residents staying home this last cycle, usage may be up slightly.

That said, obviously, if residents have questions about their specific bill or think we made an error, please don’t hesitate to call our utility clerk, Jeanna, at 360-384-4269 or utilitybilling@cityofferndale.org. We can take a look at your specific case and see if it all adds up.

Finally, we understand that this is a difficult time with so many Ferndale residents being unable to work due to COVID-19. As a result, we have suspended shutoffs and late fees for the Feb and April billing cycles. We encourage folks who have not been impacted to continue to keep up with their bill but for those who have, please take the time needed.

Thank you.

May 5, 2020

Contribute to the Thornton Overpass Quick Release Time Capsule

With work on the Thornton Street Overpass underway, and the expectation and hope that daily life in Spring 2020 will be starkly different than the coming months, the City is collecting mementos and contributions from the public to be placed in a quick release time capsule to be opened at the completion of the pre-loading process, which is anticipated to take up to 18 months.

“This is an unusual and turbulent time,” said Mayor Greg Hansen. “With a major project like Thornton beginning, we wanted to seize the opportunity to memorialize our experience today.” Items contributed to the time capsule will be shared with the public at the completion of the pre-loading process.  ”With the pandemic, a traditional groundbreaking would be difficult to attend,” said Hansen. “This will allow the public an alternative way to engage with this exciting project.”

Donations can be letters to future Ferndale residents, what people miss or look forward to in the months to come, or items that help commemorate the COVID-19 experience. To contribute physical items, please email public-works@cityofferndale.org or call (360) 685-2377 to arrange for a drop-off at City hall.  Digital items may be emailed to public-works@cityofferndale.org. All donations must be received by 5pm, Friday May 8th. 

Initial work on the project will include utility improvements and earthen wall embankments leading up to the future overpass needed to clear BNSF’s tracks.  A lengthy pre-load period is needed to stabilize and compress the soils beneath the embankments leading up to the new bridge, and these improvements will occur ahead of the planned bridge structure and road improvements.  To accommodate the settlement period, the construction phase of the project will stretch across multiple construction seasons, and the City is anticipating a 3-year construction period with completion estimated in 2023. 

For more information on the Thornton Street Overpass, go to www.cityofferndale.org/ThorntonOverpass or follow #ThorntonOverpass

April 29, 2020

City Extends All Permit Expiration Dates

City Extends All Permit Expiration Dates

To account for lost time due to the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order, the City of Ferndale is extending all permits expiration dates to allow for projects to move forward.

Applicants with a permit that was in active status and had been issued prior to Friday April 24, 2020 will be reset to the maximum 180 days as allowed by the Ferndale Municipal Code.

“We understand the impacts that are being felt with our construction industry and we want to give people the time they need to complete their projects,” said Mayor Greg Hansen. “We can’t turn back the clock but this is the next best thing.”

For more information or questions about a specific project, please contact Community Development Director Haylie Miller at
HaylieMiller@cityofferndale.org or 360-685-2367.

April 27, 2020

Construction to Resume with Additional Safety Precautions

Today, Governor Jay Inslee lifted most restrictions on residential and commercial construction, allowing low risk construction projects to resume with additional safety precautions.

Mayor Greg Hansen is grateful that the Governor has listened to our repeated requests to restart construction in a safe and responsible way and this is a good start. For full details of the safety requirements, please see the guidelines available here. For questions about individual projects, please see Community Development Director Haylie Miller at HaylieMiller@cityofferndale.org or 360-685-2367.

April 24, 2020

Mayor Greg Hansen Speaks about Intalco, Old Settlers and Getting Back to Work

Transcript:

Hello Ferndale,

First, let me thank you and the thousands of other residents for all you’ve done to keep us safe and healthy this last month. Whether you are a grocery store clerk working at Haggens or Grocery Outlet, a Ferndale school teacher trying to keep your students engaged through a computer or just sheltering at home with your family, you are doing your part to protect our community. Thank you.

I wanted to take a few moments to talk to everyone in the City about what our future looks like. I’ve been in almost daily contact with the Governor’s office fighting to get Ferndale back to business in a safe and responsible way. I want to see our projects restarted and our businesses open but we have to do it right. The last thing anyone wants is for Ferndale to be ground zero for the next outbreak. A second wave would cause an even more brutal round of shut downs and we cannot afford that in either lives or dollars. That’s why I am so relieved to see most Ferndale residents doing what they can to stay home and stay healthy.

In another couple of weeks, we will see the restrictions from the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order begin to be lifted but it will not be like flipping a switch. We will still need to maintain social distancing for much of our day-to-day operations and we cannot allow large gatherings. Last week, the Old Settlers Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the City jointly agreed to suspend their large public events this summer in an effort to prevent another outbreak. Believe me, I was looking forward to Old Settlers Weekend, especially since this year would have been their 125 anniversary. Make no mistake, we will still celebrate our history – we will just have to do it without a big parade or festival in the park.

Even more troubling, this week we received news that the Intalco facility was closing. The smelter is part of the lifeblood of our community, and they have been putting food on the tables of Ferndale families for almost three generations. This closure will be a critical blow to our local economy in the midst of a difficult time. But we are Ferndale, we look after each other especially when things look the most grim. I know that I will do everything in my power to breathe life back into this facility and fight like hell for all of our Ferndale families that find themselves out of work.

These are difficult and troubling times but we are a resilient community. We’ve survived floods, economic disasters, tragedies and more. We will survive this – together.

Thank you

April 24, 2020

Mayor Greg Hansen Statement on Intalco Facility Closure

Mayor Greg Hansen Statement on Intalco Facility Closure:

“This news is simply heartbreaking. The smelter is part of the lifeblood of our community, and they have been putting food on the tables of Ferndale families for almost three generations. This closure will be a critical blow to our local economy in the midst of a difficult time.

We are Ferndale, we look after each other especially when things look the most grim.

I know that I will do everything in my power to breathe life back into this facility and fight like hell for all of our Ferndale families that find themselves out of work.”

April 22, 2020

Work to Proceed on the Thornton Street Overpass Project

The City is working with Strider Construction Co., Inc. to proceed with the Thornton Street Overpass Project.  Work could begin as early as this week. 

The Thornton Street Overpass, which will provide a vital transportation corridor for our community is determined to be an essential project and not subject to the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. The start of work was initially anticipated on April 6th, but was not begun so both the City and the Contractor could address how best to safely move forward with the project. 

“This project is a must-have for Ferndale,” said Mayor Greg Hansen. “I am relieved that we have a pathway to proceed with construction in a safe and responsible way.” The project will be utilizing appropriate social distancing, sanitation, and other life-safety practices. 

Initial construction will include utility improvements, and earthen wall embankments leading up to the overpass needed to clear BNSF’s tracks, ahead of the planned the bridge structure and road improvements.  Because of the pre-loading needed to stabilize and compress the soils beneath the embankments leading up to the bridge, the construction phase of the project will stretch across multiple construction seasons to allow sufficient time for the soils to settle and compact.  After the settlement period, construction on the bridge structure can begin.  The City is anticipating a 3-year construction period, with completion estimated in 2023. 

For more details on the Thornton Street Overpass, visit www.cityofferndale.org/thorntonoverpass or follow the hashtag #ThorntonOverpass. For questions, please contact Capital Projects Manager Katy Radder at (360) 685-2377 or KatyRadder@cityofferndale.org. 

April 21, 2020

City Releases Updated Construction Guidelines to Help Complete Projects

UPDATE 4/24/2020 –

Today, Governor Jay Inslee lifted most restrictions on residential and commercial construction, allowing low risk construction projects to resume with additional safety precautions.

Mayor Greg Hansen is grateful that the Governor has listened to our repeated requests to restart construction in a safe and responsible way and this is a good start. For full details of the safety requirements, please see the guidelines available here. For questions about individual projects, please see Community Development Director Haylie Miller at HaylieMiller@cityofferndale.org or 360-685-2367.

April 20th, 2020 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Following consultation with the state and local officials, the City of Ferndale is releasing updated residential and commercial construction guidelines to help applicants complete projects already in process. These clarifications are consistent with the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order but may allow for some construction activity to continue within these guidelines. 

“Our first goal is to keep everyone safe,” said Community Development Director Haylie Miller, “and the best way to do that is for construction sites not to be active. That said, we understand that many projects were stopped immediately upon the Governor’s order which leaves the location vulnerable to theft, vandalism, deterioration and spoilage. We want to help prevent those impacts.”  

Since the beginning of the Governor’s order, the City of Ferndale has worked on a near-daily basis with state and local officials to clarify the meaning of the order. “We needed more than just the word ‘spoilage’ as a guidepost for what to greenlight,” said Mayor Greg Hansen. “We needed details and legally sound policy. I’m proud of our staff clarifying these details so that they can help our construction industry secure these locations in a safe and legally sound way.”

All construction activity that is moving forward during the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order must adhere to the guidelines detailed below, including vigorous sanitation and social distancing measures and must confine their construction activities to those which prevent spoilage and protect the site.  

For more details, see the full construction guidelines available on the city website here and for questions, please contact Community Development Director Haylie Miller at HaylieMiller@cityofferndale.org or (360) 685-2367.

April 20, 2020