NEWS BITES for March 6, 2019






Snohomish County PUD will not increase rates after all
EVERETT —  The Snohomish County PUD Board of Commissioners has approved staff’s recommendation to implement no rate increases in 2019.
The original 2019 budget created in mid-2018 indicated the need for a 2.9 percent general rate increase. In December, the board approved the utility’s 2019 budget, which included a modest 1.3 percent rate increase that was to go into effect in April. The decision to defer a general increase was based on stronger than expected financial results in 2018 and internal cost control measures.
“PUD employees have worked hard to minimize costs and maximize efficiency over the past year and the results are evident in the board’s latest decision to have no rate increases this year,” said Snohomish PUD CEO/General Manager John Haarlow.
The PUD’s residential rate remains 10.4 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), keeping it competitive with other Northwest electric utility rates and below the national average of 12.95 cents/kWh.
The board agreed to assess financial performance throughout 2019 and determine if a rate adjustment is needed in 2020.


 Bruin cheerleaders place 2nd and 4th

EVERETT —  Cascade High School cheerleaders impressed the judges at the JAMZ National Championships in Las Vegas in February, earning second and fourth place awards. The Bruins team finished second in Co-Ed Sideline Performance Cheer with 93.1 points, separated by less than two points from national champs, Sacred Hearts Academy and Saint Louis School of Hawaii, who rated 95. Cascade came in fourth in Co-Ed Show Cheer Level Two with a score of 92.6, just 0.23 points shy of third. The team earned the high marks at the Feb. 22 and 23 championships despite missing nearly two weeks of practice. February snowstorms shut down Everett schools for five days and caused additional cancellations of after school activities.
The team earned the bid to nationals following a 2018 WIAA State Championship where the Cascade cheerleaders placed first in the 4A Non-Tumbling Coed division.


Snohomish sex ed meetings next week
SNOHOMISH — The Snohomish School District is progressing with plans to adopt a sexual health curriculum for 7th - 9th graders and is hosting a meeting 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 and an identical meeting 6-7 p.m. Thursday, March 14 for people to review draft lessons. Both meetings will be held at the Parkway Campus located at 525 13th St.
The draft materials also are online at the school district’s website, www.sno.wednet.edu and there is opportunity to comment online.


Juvenile justice agenda item at meeting
EVERETT — The City Council’s Public Safety Committee is set to meet next week to discuss juvenile justice programs, among other topics. The commitee meeting will be Wednesday, March 13 at 5 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 3002 Wetmore Ave.
Councilwomen Brenda Stonecipher, Judy Tuohy and Liz Vogeli visited the Denney Juvenile Justice Center last week to learn more on juvenile justice efforts.
On March 20, there will be a council committee meeting discussing the city’s Climate Action Plan.


 

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