Council finally resolves Tribe sewage billing

As in so many Town Council sessions, resident Dan O’Donnell led the way, using his three minutes of public comment time to raise questions on the City of Anacortes’ billing procedures for their fiber optics installations through the City’s water main, against which La Conner is charged. He asked the Council to consider why that City is charging costs to a capital account. In response, Brian Lease, director of public works, told Council that the billing practice was questionable.

O’Donnell succeeded in getting council members and Mayor Ramon Hayes to have the longest, most personally accountable discussion in at least 10 months on the issue of billing reconciliation with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community for the years a meter did not accurately measure flow into the wastewater treatment plant. O’Donnell had repeatedly presented data to support his claim that the Tribe owes over $19,000 for the years 2014 through 2016. Resolving the “WAB [Wastewater Advisory Board] recommendation on Tribal Sewer” was an agenda item; the WAB called for no billings adjustment. Every council member spoke to the issue.

Councilmember Jacques Brunisholz, utility committee member and on the WAB, started the discussion suggesting Council “move on.

The meter is now fixed,” though he agreed that the accuracy of flow records was questionable.

Administrator Scott Thomas said he had gone over past WAB minutes.

He summed up the three year period, 2015 to 2017, saying the poor readings came in 2016.

Council member Mary Wohleb expressed her concerns for future meter failures, wondering if there was a system anomaly.

Council member Bill Stokes expressed concern that a cost estimate had not been made.

He didn’t think flow quantities could be proved or that a five percent threshold for resolving a conflict had been reached.

The cost of mediating the dispute came up. Wohleb thought an independent third party would cost more than the amount owed. Council member Leaver suggested “going through a different door,” that dropping the billing issue might bring some “good will” with the Tribe for repairing their First Street buildings.

A flustered O’Donnell told the Council if the numbers were not reviewed he would “get the state auditor.” He abruptly left the meeting, storming out of Maple Hall. He did not get the approval he asked for. Instead, on a motion by Stokes, council voted to accept the WAB recommendation of not adjusting past bills and “moving on.” Leaver dissented.

In other council business, Council honored “the lost lives in the school shootings” at Parkland, Florida in a resolution with Hayes reading the name of each of the 17 students murdered. A Sedro-Woolley high school student initiated the resolution.

Council also passed an agreement for Verizon Wireless to modify the antenna array on the Town’s water tower and they adopted a resolution finalizing revising the fee schedule for various permits.