Sewer petition presented to water board

By Pat Grubb

As promised at last month’s water district meeting, proponents of a sewer system for the south and west part of Point Roberts presented a petition to the district’s board of commissioners at their October 10 meeting.

Speaking on behalf of the Point Roberts Westside Sewer Project, spokesperson Terry Ritchey presented a nearly two-inch thick binder of petitions representing 389 property owners to the board, calling for the creation of a Utility Local Improvement District (ULID). The ULID would be the funding mechanism by which a sewer plant and sewer system would conceivably be built on the west side of the Point.

“We’ve been working on the project for 20 months,” said Ritchey, adding the project is of the type that could be completed within two years. He asked the board to meet with his group “within the next few weeks” to discuss the project and asked the board to be prepared to authorize the ULID at the end of the meeting.

According to Ritchey, a mailing to affected properties within the proposed ULID resulted in owners of 70 percent of the area agreeing to pursue a ULID.

Despite the group’s desire to ‘fast-track’ the project, its progress is by no means certain. The petition will first go to the district’s attorney to judge whether it has legal sufficiency to go ahead. Until that determination takes place, the petition is at a standstill. “The first thing we have to do is to present it to our attorneys and have them vet it as to the validity of the petition,” commissioner Reneé Coe said.

Asked by Ritchey if the board members had any questions, he was greeted by silence. The board did, however, have a number of comments to make.

First out of the gate was Coe who said “I didn’t like the fact that what we were presented with was different than what was presented to the residents.” Ritchey at first disputed that differing materials were presented but later apologized for the oversight.

Speaking from the audience, Marina Estates resident Ed Acosta wanted to know “what made this sewer raise its ugly head at this time when we have the water problem.” Commissioner Sue Johnson replied “My comment is, exactly.”

Coe was relentless in questioning Ritchey about the makeup of the sewer group. “We don’t know who, besides you, are involved in the group.” She also decried the inclusion of “new state regulations” governing septic systems as a “scare tactic.” Finally, after a tenacious series of question, Ritchey said the group was made up of Pier Point owner Todd Manrell, Century Holdings, the golf course, Syd Wallace, David Niles, Robin Land and Snider Vick. Most individuals named have been long-term boosters of a sewer system, maintaining it is necessary for economic development of the Point.