Proposed county-level utility advisory committee members to be elected, not appointed

Members of the proposed county-level Utility Advisory Committee (UAC) would be elected by utility ratepayers instead of being appointed, as was proposed by earlier versions of a resolution seeking the creation of the new committee.

County Water Resources Manager Tim Wilson reported this change of direction to the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) as it held a public hearing for the resolution on Tuesday, July 18.

Consolidating and merging utility districts

The county is currently working to consolidate the water and sewer utilities of Grand Mound, Boston Harbor, Tamoshan, and Olympic View. Part of this consolation is the merging of the local UACs in these communities into one county-level UAC.

The new committee would work with the county public works department to manage and operate the consolidated utilities while representing the interests of its ratepayers.

Each community currently has its own budget, operating accounts, and capital plans for its utilities. Water and sewer rates also vary between the four communities.

Wilson said that all the water and sewer utilities in the areas, excluding Grand Mound, have been acquired as required by state regulatory agencies, as these systems have either failed or were inadequately managed.

According to the county’s website, consolidation would improve rate stabilization and make the management of water and sewer utilities more sustainable. As part of this move, water and sewer rates would be adjusted incrementally over the next five years until ratepayers across the four communities have the same base and usage rates.

Community residents pushed for elected positions instead of appointment

The public outreach process for the utility consolidation started in the first quarter of this year. Commissioner Carolina Mejia noted many public comments were in opposition to BoCC having the ability to appoint UAC members.

The committee would comprise seven members, two each from Grand Mound, Boston Harbor, and Tamoshan, as well as one from Olympic View.

According to an earlier draft of the resolution seeking to form the consolidated UAC, the currently existing local UACs can recommend the members of the new committee but it is ultimately the BoCC’s decision who the members would be.

In response to the negative feedback the county received, Wilson said that they have drafted a new resolution to reflect the communities desire to elect the members of the new committee.

“Staff looked into that through the lens of efficiency because that is one of the major drivers for consolidation is just trying to become more efficient in how we manage the utilities,” Wilson said. “So we look through it with that lens. We agree that elections would be a good path forward for both the county and for the communities.”

Boston Harbor UAC is appreciative but still has concerns

David Hartley, who represents the local UAC in Boston Harbor, told the BoCC during the public hearing that he was glad that the county was going in this new direction but said that he still has concerns about the consolidation of water and sewer utilities.

Hartley said that his primary concerns were how much the new rates would be and if ratepayers are going to continue receiving the same level of service they currently have.

Hartley also lamented how the discussion about the consolidation started as he felt that they were excluded from earlier conversations, such as when the county contracted HDR Engineering, Inc. to conduct a feasibility study for the consolidation.

Concluding his testimony, Hartley did say that he thought he was supportive of the consolidation as it is currently being proposed.