Around the Point

The USDA has recognized Whidbey Telecom for its commitment to extending high-speed internet and awarded the company over half a million dollars to get started on a fiber project to serve residents on the Point.

Kirk Pearson, state director for USDA rural development, presented the Washington Infrastructure Award of Excellence to Whidbey Telecom employees on October 22.

“We are also the recipient of a ReConnect grant for a Point Roberts fiber project,” said Donna Hilty, Whidbey Telecom chief operating officer. “We will use the $596,000 ReConnect grant to start a fiber- to-the-premises network to connect underserved residents to high-speed broadband internet.”

Hilty said the company will continue to apply for state and federal funding to build the project.

“This is just the start. We know the Point Roberts community will be excited and we have a lot of work ahead of us,” Hilty said. “This will be a multi-phase, multi-year endeavor.”

❦

The Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce has a new slate of officers. These are Brian Calder, president; Louise Mugar, vice president; Patti Monaghan-Hacker, treasurer; Linda Hughes, secretary; and Tamra Hansen, director. Following the October 6 meeting, former president Dee Gough submitted a letter of resignation.

The chamber has begun a membership drive. It “currently has 23 dues-paying members and growing,” Calder says.

❦

The Point Roberts Parks and Recreation District accepted a bid of $40,648.44 to replace the septic system at the community center from Ken Calder Construction. Two other local companies submitted bids; Pacific Shore Contracting ($25,497.50) and Hank’s Backhoe ($30,271.50).

Commissioner Stephen Falk, explaining why the district went with the highest bid, wrote, “We selected Ken because he had the most complete quote (including electrical, initial maintenance and landscaping), had explored working around the drainage system, had completed training on prevailing wages, and had a plan to work around the limited community center activities.”