Utilities Commission approves rate hike for Olympic

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission approved a 2.5 percent rate increase for Olympic Pipeline. The company was seeking a 62 percent rate hike. All current pipeline safety improvement projects are funded in the new rates.

Because Olympic failed to prove permanent financial need, they must also refund a portion of the 24 percent temporary rate increase granted in January. Customers can expect a temporary rate decrease of approximately 6 percent beginning in October 2002.

“Olympic’s use of estimated, budgeted and unverifiable figures – and in many instances no figures at all – fails any test of reliability,” said the WUTC order. The commission further criticized the pipeline’s owners, BP and Equilon, for “failing to put a dime of equity in the company.”

Commissioners urged the company to file a new rate case within two years.

The rate increase denial came on the heels of a National Transportation Safety Board determination that excavation work on the pipeline caused the explosion that killed three youths and spilled 200,000 gallons of gasoline into Whatcom Creek.

In October, the NTSB determined that excavation work by IMCO General Construction in 1994 for a water treatment plant damaged the pipeline. Reports of the damage should have led Olympic Pipeline to excavate and inspect the damaged section.

“The company did not perform the work and thus did not identify the true nature of the damage,” according to the NTSB.

Olympic Pipeline carries diesel, gas and aviation fuel from four refineries in Whatcom and Skagit Counties to points in Western Washington and Portland, Ore.

 

Lynden welcomes new tanning salon

Sol Tanning opened in Bender Plaza in Lynden. They recently held a grand opening celebration and contest, where a lucky tanner won a basket full of tanning-related goodies.

 

BP named one of best companies for working mothers

Working Mother magazine named BP America as one of the 100 best companies for working mothers. This is the first time BP has made the Working Mother list and BP is the only energy company on this year’s list.

BP offers a number of programs to help employees balance work and family obligations. including schedules that allow employees to work 80 hours over 9 days, job sharing, flexible scheduling, telecommuting, and educational benefits.

“Not only are these types of programs helpful to our employees, we are confident they make excellent business sense for our company,” said Emily Deakins, general manager for group diversity and inclusion. “Employees who are balanced, adjusted and on top of their life situations are in position to make their best contribution to the success of the company.”

Bellingham named best retirement community by Kiplingers

Kiplingers, a personal finance magazine, named Bellingham one of the three best communities for retirement in the United States.

Kiplingers ranked college towns across the United States, on the theory that retirees are beginning to move farther afield in search of amenities to enrich their retirement. They cited Bellingham for its abundance of cultural and recreation opportunities, proximity to Vancouver and Seattle, its low crime rate and small-town atmosphere.

According to the Bellingham/Whatcom County Convention and Visitors Bureau, more than 11 percent of Bellingham’s population consists of retirees.

Over the past two years, national magazines have named Bellingham “Dream Town USA” (Outside), “Best Air Quality in the nation” (Runners World), and “Top Place to Live and Retire” (Modern Maturity).

Golf Digest named Bellingham the seventh best “little golf town” in the United States. The magazine commissioned two geography professors from Oklahoma State to rank 314 centers across the United States.

The top five little golf towns are: Jamestown, New York, Glens Falls, New York, Panama City, Florida, Jackson, Michigan, and Utica-Rome, New York.

 

Baron Telecom launches new Web site

Baron Telecommunications has a new Web site to provide interactive information about the company’s offerings.

The Web site is “the perfect venue to easily view information that fits a business,” said Phil Bratt, president of Baron Telecommunications.

Soon, the company will add an interactive customer center to the Web site.

 

Whatcom Watershed Pledge begins new information drive

Whatcom Watershed Business Pledge is launching a drive to enroll new businesses in the program. Pledge teams will visit businesses in the county to provide pollution prevention information and technical assistance in the reduction of solid waste, hazardous waste and water pollution. Businesses will get a personalized “to do” list and hints for easing compliance. Visited businesses will also receive a business watersheds pledge plaque.

A recent phone survey found 75 percent of businesses that have pledged over the past four years still use the pollution prevention measures recommended during their pledge visit.

“Businesses chose to participate…(because) they appreciated the non-regulatory, educational approach,” said Pamela Jull, managing partner of Applied Research Northwest, who performed the telephone survey.

 

Economic census underway

The 2002 Economic Census, the US Commerce Department’s chief means of collecting data for their most widely used statistics, is underway. Businesses that receive a form must fill it out and return it by Feb. 12, 2003.

“The economic census is indispensable to understanding our nation’s economy,” said Alan Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve.

Even small businesses benefit from the census process.

“If we all fill them out and we all send them in, then the information that policy makers look at in Washington and at the state level will be information from small business – that part of the economy we think is most vital and most important,” said William Dunkelberg, chief economist for the National Federation of Independent Business.

Whatcom County businesses will see a total of 3,700 forms. For more information on the census or help with completing forms, visit http://www.census.gov/
econ2002 or http://www.census.gov/
2002promo.

 

New members named to citizen’s pipeline committee

Seven new members joined the Citizen’s Committee on Pipeline Safety last month. The 13-member committee advises state, federal and local agencies on pipeline construction, maintenance, and routing.

Five new members, serving until July 31, 2005, are:

Richard Kuprewicz, Sammamish, engineer and consultant;

Sheila Fay Helgath, Seattle, scientist for environmental and engineering firm;

Kenneth Thomas, Bellingham, retired assistant director of public works for the City of Bellingham;

Patricia Barber, Bellevue, environmental engineer and student at Seattle University law school;

George Hills, Tacoma, chief engineer of McChord Pipeline.

Two new members serve until July 31, 2003:

Shirley Olson, Graham, retired state employee who recently lived near a pipeline in Thurston County;

Haywood Johnson, Zillah, member of Zillah city council.

 

Creative Fire launches new Web site

Creative Fire, a Bellingham-based, women-owned candle company, launched a new Web site last month.

“By using technology as a medium we’re not limited by geography,” said Heather McKendry co-owner of Creative Fire.

The site can be found at: http://www.creativefirecandles.com.

 

County budget distinguished

Whatcom County received the distinguished budget presentation award from the Government Finance Officers Association. It’s the fifth time Whatcom County has received the award.

County executive Pete Kremen commended Dewey Desler, administrative services director, and Brad Bennett, finance manager, for their successful efforts in budgeting for the county.

 

Alumina Micro named Venture All-Star

Alumina Micro, Bellingham-based leader in microvalve technology, won a Venture All-Star award as one of the top companies in the Northwest started with venture capital. Investment Forum, a non profit organization that promotes promising new companies, presented the awards at a ceremony at Seahawks Stadium in September. The awards focus on companies from Northwest Washington, Vancouver, BC, and Portland, OR.

 

Videosmith delivers educational, promotional video

Videosmith has completed work on two videos.

“The 4 P’s” is a presentation describing the new Washington State educational requirements in Whatcom County from a student perspective. The Whatcom County School-to-Work Consortium commissioned the video.

“Shawmanee Charters” is a 6-minute promotional video for a 57-foot ketch operating out of Squalicum Harbor. The video will accompany promotional materials being sent to prospective passengers. In addition, it was shown on continuous loop at the Shawmanee Charter booth at the Whatcom County Business Expo.

 

Puglia Engineering moves into port facility

Puglia Engineering signed a three-year renewable agreement to use a significant portion of the former Bellingham Bay Shipyard site. Puglia moved onto the site last summer on a month-to-month basis. Since then, the company has earned over $2 million in navy contracts and has attracted some former Bellingham Bay customers as well.

Puglia has hired 50 skilled trades people since last summer. The company emphasizes metal fabrication process, commercial and governmental ship repair and building, specialty projects, and maintenance.

 

Custom Design unveils new logo

Custom Design Sign and Awning has a new logo. They have a new color scheme and the logo features a shortened name.

CDI features a wide format digital printer, which can produce five foot wide, photographic quality output of unlimited length.

 

Property taxes increase by average 2.1 percent

Property taxes increased by an average of 2.1 percent across the state between 2001 and 2002, according to the state Department of Revenue.

Slow growth is largely the result of Initiative 747, which limits taxing districts to one percent increases without prior voter approval. The initiative does not limit revenue generated from new construction.

Statewide, the average tax bill on a $200,000 home increased $54.60 to$2,646.86.

In Whatcom County, tax increased 1.3 percent, or $33.47, on a $200,000 home.

 

Group Health wins award for public health initiatives

Group Health Cooperative won the highest possible quality and service rating from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. This is their seventh consecutive award.

Group Health won the award by scoring high marks on public health issues, including cancer, smoking, asthma, heart disease, chlamydia screening, and eye exams and kidney screening in people with diabetes.

 

Reco hires new sales force

Dave Koopman has joined Brandon Rutledge at Reco Corporate Sportswear and Custom Embroidery. Koopman will handle outside sales for Reco.

He attended college with Rutledge in Sioux Center, Iowa. Most recently, Koopman taught business in Ontario, Calif.

 

Feller Heating under new ownership

John and Jacquee Larson and Steve and Kristi Felbinger are the new owners of Feller Heating and Air Conditioning.

John Larson joined Feller in 1996 as part owner, focused on the company’s commercial operations. He has an MBA from Western Washington University and spent 16 years as a manager at Ershig’s, where he focused on estimating and contract management. He will be president of the new company.

Steve Felbinger was hired by Feller in 1993 to head the residential division. He has grown the company by including new technologies. Felbinger becomes vice president with responsibility for residential and service divisions.

The company has assigned Mike Campbell as field/shop manager and Leota Lagerway as service coordinator.

Currently, Feller is working on projects including Lowe’s Home Improvement Center, Anacortes Public Library and Hillcrest Chapel.

 

Bikram’s Yoga College of India comes to Bellingham

Bikram’s Yoga College moved to its permanent location on Railroad Ave. in Bellingham last month. The school had been operating in a temporary location on Cornwall Ave.

The new facilities offer 3,200 square feet of space, including studios, change rooms, showers and an environment heated to 90F – 105F, to promote detoxification.

Bikram’s will hold grand opening celebrations this month.

The school is the combined effort of Karis and Troy McFadden. They met several years ago at a yoga class in Portland. Eventually they both left for Thailand to work on Troy’s The Sanctuary Spa and Wellness Center. They returned to the United States last year and settled in Bellingham.

 

Java Town joins latte art competition

A team from Java town will represent Bellingham in the latte art competition at Coffee Fest in Seattle, Nov. 8 – 10. Teams will compete to see who can create the most artistic design by pouring steamed milk into espresso.

“This competition will be incredible,” said David Heilbrunn, manager of Coffee Fest. “In addition to applicants from all around the Seattle area, we have received interest from baristas in Kansas City, Logan, Utah, and even England.”

 

 

Trans-Ocean introduces product marketed to Latin American markets

Trans-Ocean Products, Bellingham-based maker of surimi seafood, has launched a new product, Jaiba Supremo, aimed at the domestic Hispanic market.

“Our research shows there is a great opportunity among the Latino population,” said Lou Shaheen, vice president of sales and marketing. The company’s research said that imitation crab was an “ideal ingredient for the cooking styles of Latino homemakers who feed families more than two times as large as the national average.”

Jaiba Supremo features “bi-lingual packaging with culturally appropriate design and coloring.”

 

Bellingham company wins audio/video contracts

Audio/Video Excellence, formerly known as Satellite Entertainment, won three contracts to supply integrated, whole house audio/video systems in the Los Angeles area.

Brian Haugen, co-owner of the company, is managing the projects and programming all systems.

 

Blaine homebuilder relocates

E.A. Thompson Co., custom home builder and general contractor, recently moved from Ferndale to a White Road location in Blaine. In addition to the move, the company received professional certification to represent Armstrong Homes of Auburn and their ArmSystem house-building system. With ArmSystem, house components are built in the factory and assembled on-site.

E.A. Thompson also customizes wood pole buildings and horse barns.

 

Washington unemployment up slightly in September

Washington’s seasonally adjusted employment rate rose two-tenths of a percent to 7.4 percent in September. Nationally, the rate edged down one-tenth of a percentage point to 5.6 percent.

“The September numbers point to a continuing soft labor market in Washington,” said Sylvia P. Mundy, employment security commissioner. “The stabilizing national economic picture, including the falling jobless rate, will have a cushioning effect on the Washington economy.

“We should nevertheless be prepared for a slower recovery at the state than at the national level.”

In Whatcom County, the preliminary seasonally unadjusted employment rate was 5.9 percent, up from 5.7 percent in August, but down from 6.4 percent in September 2001.

Nonagricultural employment increased statewide by 9,600 jobs in September, the first non-adjusted increase in jobs since June 2002.

 

County economic plan approved

Whatcom County’s Community Economic Plan was approved by the Federal Economic Development Administration last month. The approval clears the way for the county to be eligible for additional federal grants.

“The county plan provides an important set of tools that will be used to help keep our residents employed and our economy prosperous,” said Pete Kremen, county executive.

Partnership for a Sustainable Economy developed the plan, with an eye to creating and retaining better paying jobs, fostering stable and diversified economies, and maintaining the quality of life in Whatcom County. County government worked on the plan along with Public Utility District #1, the Lummi and Nooksack tribes, and the Port of Bellingham. In addition, representatives from the private sector, education and the non-profit community joined with government representatives to form an advisory group throughout the process.

Copies of the plan can be reviewed at public libraries in Bellingham and Whatcom County, or on-line at http://www.whatcompartnership.org.

 

County recognized for audit excellence

Brian Sonntag, state auditor, recognized Whatcom County last month for its second consecutive year without audit findings.

“(It’s) just one reflection of the county’s dedication to sound financial operations and timely financial reporting and it’s recognition that accountability is important to citizens,” said Sonntag in a letter.

 

New health care options available

For the first time in Washington, mid-sized companies will be able to offer their employees the same kinds of broad health coverage choices that large corporations offer.

It’s part of a new arrangement involving Group Health Options and CIGNA HealthCare, whose services and plans will be offered to mid-sized employers in collaboration with BENU Washington.

No other single product in Washington currently gives mid-sized employers an expanded choice of health coverage benefits where employees select from a menu of six medical plans, including defined-physician network plans, a preferred-provider organization (PPO), and point-of-service (POS) plans. In addition, employees can choose other insurance products including dental, vision, life, and long- and short-term disability.

BENU Washington is a market first for businesses with 100 to 1,000 employees. Mid-sized companies usually cannot afford the administrative costs of offering plans from different vendors, and many may not attract interest from multiple carriers due to the limited size of their employee base. Often, the result is the employees are restricted to a choice of only one or two benefit designs from a single carrier.

 

Brewery brings home bacon

Bellingham’s Boundary Bay Brewery and Bistro scored three medals at this year’s Great American Beer Festival in Denver, CO. The brewery’s Old Bounder won a silver medal in the barley wine category as did the Best Bitter in the strong bitter category. Cabin Fever won a bronze medal in the old ale/strong ale category.

These three medals were the most won by any brewery in the state of Washington. Boundary Bay has now won seven medals in the past five years, once again putting it at the top of the heap in Washington.

Winning beers were chosen from a field of over 1,900 entries by over 400 domestic breweries.

 

Conference posts big gains

Attendance at this year’s Whatcom Business Conference increased by more than 35 percent, the biggest jump in the event’s six year history. Hosted by Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Whatcom Community College and Whatcom County Business Pulse, the conference is held each year at the Best Western Lakeway Inn.

A total of 473 people attended the sixteen seminars offered, an increase of 125 over 2001. SBDC director Tom Dorr said that he had received overwhelmingly positive feedback from those attending. That feedback will be taken into account when planning for future conferences.

Business simplifies e-commerce

Small businesses interested in expanding onto the Web are often daunted by the difficulties of creating and maintaining a site. Bellingham’s Uncomplicated.net is now offering a “Web Everything” package that enables businesses to duck costly custom design fees.

It also allows users to select online tools such as appointment scheduling, message forums, full shopping cart and catalog, and automated shipping calculator. Because the package is totally Web-based, all that’s needed to create a working e-commerce site is basic knowledge of a web browser and word processor.

 

All American succeeds Bellingham Bay

Local boat builder All American Marine has signed a 10 year lease with the Port of Bellingham that will allow the company to expand its operations into the Fairhaven facility recently vacated by Bellingham Bay Shipyards.

All American will lease a 20,000 square foot building and several cranes. The company plans to invest $150,000 to $200,000 in the site. The boatbuilder is a leading manufacturer of aluminum passenger catamarans, commercial fishing boats, 6-pack charter fishing boats and work boats.

All American has multiple orders for catamaran passenger ferries on hand, including a 72-footer and two 65-footers for customers in Alaska, California and Hawaii. The present 25-person workforce should double by the end of the year.

 

State settles with HFC

Household International, a division of Household Finance Corp. (HFC), will pay millions of dollars to Washington homeowners in one of the largest direct customer restitution cases in US history.

The settlement, announced by attorney general Christine Gregoire, also requires the Illinois-based company to change its lending practices. The state Department of Financial Institutions investigated HFC after receiving about 180 complaints from borrowers, many of whom were in Whatcom County.

The investigation showed that Household and its subsidiaries violated numerous provisions of the Consumer Protection Act by misrepresenting loan terms and failing to disclose important information to borrowers.

 

Dentech sells 60,000th delivery unit

Dentech Corporation of Lynden, maker of dental chairs, stools, cabinets, delivery units and lights, sold their 60,000th dental delivery unit last month. Steven W. White, president of Dentech, believes the company now has the second largest number of installed dental delivery units in the United States.

Dental delivery units help position instruments near a patient’s chair, so dentists and hygienists can access the instruments.

Joseph Pilatich, a dentist in Catskill, New York, purchased Dentech’s 60,000th unit.

 

Walker Healthy Pet on the move

Walker Healthy Pet, an all-natural pet store, recently relocated to Barkley Village. Walker was in Fairhaven for the past three years.

“Barkley Village is an ideal location for our Bellingham store,” said Scott Price, owner. “It’s wonderful to join such a beautiful and energetic part of the city.”

 

Webefx wins Skagit school contract

Webefx, Bellingham-based web design company, won the Web development contract for Mount Vernon schools. The company develops content management systems that allow everyday users to post information.

“Now our district’s personnel wilt be capable of publishing information on-line without the need for technical expertise or support,” said Kevin Tate, information coordinator for Mount Vernon schools.

 

La Fiamma makes top pizza list

Bellingham’s La Fiamma wood fire pizza was named to Pizza Today’s 100 Hot Independent’s list.

The magazine lists independent pizza restaurants with single unit sales over $750,000 in 2001. They estimate independents will grow by 16 percent over the next three years.

 

Horseshoe Café increases bounty

Travis Holland, owner of the Horseshoe Café, has boosted the bounty he is offering to anyone who can find an older restaurant in the west. The Horseshoe has operated continuously for 116 years. Holland is offering $200 to anyone who can prove that any other restaurant in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona or Nevada has been open longer using its original name.

“I’m still on a mission to find out if there are any current restaurants anywhere in the west that have been open continuously longer than we have,” Holland said. “Although some have been close, we haven’t discovered another one yet.”

Eligible restaurants must have operated under the same name since before 1886. Location changes within the same town are acceptable.

Bounty hunters who can find older restaurants will be invited to Bellingham to receive their check and a complimentary meal for up to five guests.

 

Xcache releases new product

Xcache Technologies, a Bellingham-based provider of Internet acceleration and management solutions, released Xcompress 1400, an Internet compression utility. Xcompress brings file compression and decompression to hardware-based products. The product is also platform and hardware independent.

“It’s no mystery that compressing a file is pretty easy and lots of products claim to do it,” said Wayne Berry, CEO of Xcache. “The hard part is knowing when to apply compression.”

 

Fitness Alliance opens at Bellwether

Fitness Alliance, a private personal training company, opened in the Paulson Building at Bellwether this month. Their newly completed facilities feature three studio rooms for private workouts and a cardio room for warm ups.

 

Cedarprime to relocate to Sumas

Cedarprime, a subsidiary of International Forest Products, will relocate from British Columbia to Sumas this fall. The company will establish a value-added wood products manufacturing plant, providing 60 jobs in the first year.

“Bringing this company to Whatcom County, and the new jobs that will come with it, was evidence of the influence that can be brought to bear when economic development organizations work collectively for a single purpose,” said Bill Taylor, board chair for the Bellingham Whatcom Economic Development Council.

Interfor decided to relocate the plant to the United States to avoid softwood lumber duties levied by the US government against Canadian imports.

“We’re excited about Cedarprime’s decision to locate in Sumas,” said Bob Bromley, Sumas mayor. “They will be a great addition to our tax base, employ skilled local workers, and compliment existing businesses in the area.

“Sumas’ commitment to…a business friendly environment are attracting the attention of companies like Cedarprime.”