Back in July of 2014, it was reported the City of Ferndale desired to change their relationship with Whatcom County Fire Protection District 7.
Now it is time for the voters to decide if this should go forward.
Ballots will be have been mailed to all registered voters living within Ferndale and Whatcom County Fire Protection District 7. According to the Whatcom County Auditor’s calendar, they were scheduled to be mailed out yesterday.
Click for more information
Click for more informationSince the 1950s, the City has contracted with WCFPD 7 for fire protection services since the district’s boundaries include areas around Ferndale but not with the city limits. WCFPD 7 operates it’s volunteer force out of the fire station at 2020 Washington Street. Additional stations are located at
- 6081 Church Road (manned)
- 1886 Grandview Road (unmanned)
- 5491 Grandview Road (unmanned)
- 5368 Northwest Drive (manned)
- 4047 Brown Road (unmanned)
If Ferndale voters agree with the City’s recommendation, Ferndale will be annexed into the WCFPD 7 service area in 2016. According to the City’s website,
Click for more information
Click for more information“The only significant change is that the City will be removed as a middle man for tax collections that are simply then paid to the District for fire service. City residents will also be able to participate in Fire District Board of Commissioners elections and could even run for those offices if they chose to do so.”
Instead of the City collecting taxes to pay the fire district’s contract as it has been doing, the fire district will directly levy property taxes to cover their costs as a part of the general taxes.
The voters in the cities of Nooksack and Everson are also being asked to vote on joining and annex their cities into their fire district during this special election. Blaine joined and annexed into their fire district in 2006. The election will be conducted entirely by mail.