BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – As colder weather approaches, some local municipalities are preparing for the management of a severe weather shelter.
The Bellingham City Council will be voting on Monday night on whether to approve an interlocal agreement to help fund the Whatcom County-run severe weather shelter this winter.
My Bellingham Now previously reported that towards the end of last winter season, the city also sent money to Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) to help run the shelter.
Funding woes and controversy surrounding the low temperature threshold plagued the shelter last season. Despite calls to raise the temperature threshold, the shelter is set to only open if the temp dips to 32 degrees or below for at least four hours with some consideration taken for wind chill and other adverse weather factors.
Historically, the budget for the shelter was up to $400,000 as the county ran it the last three seasons. No non-governmental organization came forward to run the shelter in the last three years that WCHCS has put out the call.
If the agreement is approved, Bellingham will commit up to $100,000 of reimbursement for staffing and operational costs after the county’s $450,000 initial budget has been expended.
A total of $650,000 is prepared to be expended in keeping the shelter open during the winter season between the two municipalities. According to the proposed agreement, Whatcom County will cover any additional costs above the $650,000.
