Sarah Lee has been a Fort Ward sewer district commissioner since 1991.
The powers that be think that government body should dissolve and its powers transferred to another public agency by the end of January to make the three systems on Bainbridge Island more efficient.
But Lee made it known at the City Council meeting Dec. 17 that she will be looking out for her constituents until the bitter end.
She said 50 people came to Kitsap County Sewer District 7’s meeting Dec. 7, when only four had come to meetings all year. Most were worried they would lose their good customer service and low rates. “Trust is a huge issue,” she said.
For example, her customers pay about $70 a month, while Winslow customers pay twice that. “You’d think there would be an efficiency of scale,” she said, referring to Winslow having so many more customers. “Why is there such a big difference?”
Lee said her customers don’t think they should have to pay for Winslow’s aging system. The pipes are corrosive and too narrow, “so the flow can’t get where it needs to go.” When that happens, sewage “can go up manholes.”
The longtime commissioner said years ago, “The city came to us when they had leakages. Sewage was coming up in yards and ditches. It was pretty gross.” So her customers want to know, “Does it make sense to merge with the city?”
During council discussion, the members said they want to continue the discussions to look for the best option. The city’s Comprehensive Plan policy endorses a consolidated or cooperative wastewater system governed by one public agency.
Deputy mayor Ashley Mathews said she was at that meeting and knows it’s a key issue for those residents. “There are issues we need to work on as we build this relationship,” she said.
Mayor Joe Deets said, “The city is a valuable partner in this,” adding it will play an important part in coming to a collaborative agreement.
Councilmember Kirsten Hytopoulos said the city’s Comprehensive Plan endorses a merger, and, “All parties need to be involved to reach an accord. Cooperation is key.”
Councilmember Jon Quitslund said, “We are in an awkward place right now,” but the time is right to make important decisions like this one because of the Comp Plan update. He said there are three sewage districts and two treatment plants with potential for expansion so the parties need to figure out “how can various parts of the community get the best benefit.”
Quitslund said BI has talked a long time about tertiary sewage treatment to make it safer for the outfall into Puget Sound. “That’s a big investment. How can we make that real?”
He said water is actually a bigger issue because there are three large water systems—two in the north and one in the south. “We need them to be collaborative to serve all portions of our population.”
Councilmember Clarence Moriwaki said the group was looking too deeply at the issue. All it needed to do was endorse the Comp Plan goal of saying it wants to continue the discussion, which it eventually did.
Background information shows the city of BI operates a Wastewater Treatment Plant that treats approximately 1.2 million gallons of effluent per day along with a collection system that provides service to 2,250 customers in Winslow.
The city also provides sewer service to 390 customers in the South Island Sewer Service area. Sewer District 7 provides service to 310 customers, plus treats the city’s 390 customers. The Sewer District 7 Wastewater Treatment Plant treats approximately 280,000 gallons per day. The city represents approximately 56% of the customer base of Sewer District #7.
