The web makes it so easy to verify but people still read a headline, form a judgement and start spouting without ever following through to ensure they are correct.
GRRRR!
DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE!! It's actually fun ;-)
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Bicycle Loops, Parking Lot Lights and Deconsumption
Asked for and received - Kudos to your Port of Bellingham staff.:
The traffic signal loop was a nice touch for the community, thank you Adam.
The LED lights will be a big winner for our energy deconsumption . Good work Norm.
Last year traffic impact mitigation required a new signal at Roeder and Bellwether, I asked for a bike loop so the light would react to cyclists coming to the light......done!
This year I asked for LED lighting in our new parking lots......Norm tells me just this week......done!
Breakdown:
* 33 new LED parking lot lights that draw 60% of the standard metal halide.
* 19 year life expectancy.
* High value recyclable content at the end of life.
* $11,000 cheaper than the metal halide with 30% lower operating costs!! WIN-WIN!!
Word of the millenium:
Deconsumption: making do with less (Markowitz and Bowerman).
Port Audit
Port of Bellingham Given Clean Audit by State Auditors
[Bellingham, Wash.] Washington State Auditors reported that the Port of Bellingham met all requirements analyzed in the state annual audit.
"I am always pleased to see the public scrutiny our governments must undergo during the annual audit process,” said Port Commission President Michael McAuley. “While it is a significant achievement to garner no findings year after year, it is also a positive reminder for each and every taxpayer that our port is careful with their money."
In June the auditors completed their annual audit of the Port of Bellingham’s accountability, financial statements and federal grant compliance. The auditors issued a letter stating that they had no findings or major concerns. The audit reviewed records for 2010 and in some cases included previous years.
In 2010 the port collected taxes of $7.4 million, realized $21.2 million in operations revenue, spent $47.6 million on capital assets and increased net assets by $34.8 million. The port manages 1,663 acres of public land that includes 90 port-owned buildings.
Each year auditors choose several areas to more closely review and for 2010, their focus was on: electronic payments, payroll, the Industrial Development Corporation, open public meetings, conflict of interest, self insurance and prior audit issues.
“For 18 consecutive years the port has achieved a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association,” said Port Chief Financial Officer Rob Fix. “I expect our clean audit from the State of Washington for 2010 will lead to the port’s 19th award. This is a true representation of the hard work and high ethical standards put forth daily by the Port’s accounting team and the entire Port staff.”
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Reasons to Support Railroads
The link below leads to a document sponsored by BNSF and CN.
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I've been criticized recently for an op-ed in the Bellingham Herald that, as usual, folks cherry picked to support their criticism. I never said I support coal trains, I never said I support coal usage and I never said I support a coal terminal at Cherry Point.
I *do* support an increase in rail traffic around this country, esp. since folks continue to buy stuff in increasing quantities and that 'stuff' has to get moved somehow. On land we can't move goods more efficiently than on rail so that's why I support rail.
I also support the EPA's soon to be released new rules on pollution sources, so maybe we can see a big transformation in the locomotive fleet soon that goes beyond Tier 4 standards.
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