Updating a current topic: Shelter Bay and La Conner's water system

To Our Respected Shelter Bay Customers:

The Town of La Conner is pleased to announce that the installation of the Town’s Phase 1 water main replacement project, which extends from Young Road to Mclean Road, has been successfully completed. The size of the line was determined by our engineer and will supply sufficient quantities of water to meet the needs of the Town and Shelter Bay.

Phase 2 of the water main replacement, extending from Mclean Road to the La Conner roundabout, is not anticipated to be necessary for approximately 10 years. Phase 3, extending from the roundabout to the water storage tank, is not anticipated for 15-20 years.

That said, the Town remains poised to act, as necessary, to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of water to all customers that depend on our system. La Conner’s water system is the only system in our area with the capacity to provide adequate volumes of water for fire flow as mandated by WA State law. And although the Town’s current contract with Shelter Bay does not address it, the Town is prepared and able to provide fire flow to the Shelter Bay community at any time that Shelter Bay’s water infrastructure is upgraded to the capacity necessary to receive it.

To finance the water main, the Town took out a 20-year revenue bond for $1,000,000. The total cost of the Phase 1 project, including financing, is $1,748,875. Shelter Bay’s portion of this cost is based on its water consumption, which is currently 48 percent of the entire amount of water that flows through the Town’s system.

Per our calculations, the Phase 1 project has increased Shelter Bay’s total water bill by $4,274.96 monthly (including all engineering, construction and financing costs). Divided by the approximately 900 homes in the Shelter Bay community, that’s an increase of $4.74 per month. However, full accounting of the project is still taking place and the final number will most likely be adjusted slightly once all contractor costs are finalized.

The Town believes there were significant delays in securing Shelter Bay’s participation with the Phase 1 project. In fact, a written agreement was never reached. These delays increased costs. That said, the Town remains committed to our long and stable relationship. We are hopeful for heightened levels of communication and cooperation going forward.

Ramon Hayes, Mayor