Shelter Bay meeting offers water supply options

Over 50 Shelter Bay Community residents attended a town hall meeting January 31 for a presentation on the Shelter Bay Water System. The Community is facing decisions for its future supplier. Since its 1968 inception, Shelter Bay has received water from the Town of La Conner. The Community and Town have an ongoing contractual agreement that is in perpetuity according to John Koch.

John Koch, chairman of the facilities committee, offered 47 slides summarizing history, status, needs and estimated costs to update the system.

The key issues for the board to consider are fire flow protection, upgrading costs and the agreement with La Conner.

In his introduction, Community Manager David Franklin told the group that many Washington community systems are “facing infrastructure issues at the end of their natural life.” The meeting’s purpose was to provide information and answer residents’ questions.

La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes, Administrator Scott Thomas and Public Works Director Brian Lease were present, taking questions and supplying information. Fire District 13 Chief Roy Horn and John Petrich and Mike Poppe from the Swinomish Utility Authority also participated

The La Conner water system does not have the capacity to provide fire flow protection to Shelter Bay. Fire flow standards obligate a community to minimum quantities of water and fire hydrant spacing. Funding for fire flow protection has been part of Shelter Bay’s capital reserve assessment since at least 2015.

Fire Chief Horn, in answer to a question, said the District “would love to have fire flow. We cannot bring enough water in our trucks.” He said firefighters work to protect nearby houses, letting the house on fire burn.

Koch said if Shelter Bay’s water needs exceed La Conner’s ability to supply it, the water agreement allows Shelter Bay “to seek other sources of water.” He said the system is only sufficient for domestic water supply.

The cost issues focused on the cost of water to residents and the estimated cost options to continue with La Conner or create a system with the Swinomish Utility Authority becoming the supplier.

Koch offered a slide showing that La Conner and Shelter Bay residents have much higher total costs for water than the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Mount Vernon or Anacortes. Only Shelter Bay residents are charged a per capita $20 capital assessment, he said.

Summarizing benefits to Shelter Bay, Koch listed 10 benefits if they switch to the SUA. Two relating to costs referred to a study concluding “costs may be less.”

Koch presented four “issues” if the SUA became the water supplier. One is that “SUA is unknown entity compared to La Conner” and two, emphasized that the means of financing capital improvements are unknown.

Koch estimated costs for continuing with La Conner would range from $1.2 to $4.6 million, while switching to SUA might cost $2.2 to $4.7 million.

The last portion of the presentation focused on creating capacity to provide fire flow. A slide stated: “If Yes, the most cost-effective choice is to go with SUA.”

If the Shelter Bay board decides to switch to SUA, the recommended next step is to get a proposal from CHS Engineering, a Bellevue civil engineering firm specializing in a variety of water management systems.

Shelter Bay’s agreement with La Conner sets an approximately 40 percent cost-share in repairs. The Town and Shelter Bay will have to reach agreement on apportioning the planning and replacement costs for the broken water main between Young and McLean Roads.

Mayor Ramon Hayes estimated phase 1 replacement costs at $900,000. If 40 percent, Shelter Bay’s cost would be $360,000. Overall, he said, “the Town of La Conner will work with Shelter Bay for the safety of all.” He told the group that “the reality is if they are to continue to get water from La Conner they will have to be part of Phase 1 of La Conner’s project.”

After discussing the presentation with Lease, the Town’s public work’s director, Hayes shared his concerns with the Weekly News. Hayes said the assessment of the Town’s technical staff is that “Koch grossly overstated the challenges associated with receiving water from La Conner and dramatically underestimated the costs associated with upgrading the systems necessary to receive water from the tribe.”

Hayes noted Koch made the presentation as chair of the facilities committee; he was not speaking for the board. Hayes saw the presentation not as providing general information but advocating for obtaining water from the Tribe. He pointed out that Town staff were not asked for information. The Town had made requests for planning its water main upgrades with Franklin, Shelter Bay manager, since mid-2017, but had received little information back.

Regarding meeting fire flow protection standards, Hayes said “fire flow is achievable from La Conner. No analysis was done or asked for. It could be achieved but we have to see what those costs are. We have not been approached.”

Hayes offered this advice: “We greatly encourage the board to get an assessment from a qualified engineering firm like CHS Engineers, whom Koch referred to in his presentation. No one knows the water systems around here better than Evan Henke.” He said the people of Shelter Bay need a true picture of what the project is going to cost.

The Community’s board of directors may decide on options at its February 14 meeting. Anne Hayes, board president, can be contacted for comments at [email protected].

The Shelter Bay Community board meets February 14 at 1 p.m. at the Clubhouse.

Koch is an environmental engineer with over 40 years of experience in water systems.