The Bonney Lake city council appears closer than ever to moving forward with a new sewer system for Eastown.
During a discussion at a study session this month, a majority of the city council seemed to indicate that the project was important enough to move forward with a latecomers agreement for sewers for the area, even if it means the minimum participation from landowners in the area, which is prescribed by city ordinance at 5 percent.
City policy states that development should pay for development, including putting pipes in the ground. Presently, city law requires all new buildings to hook up to the city’s sewer system. However, there are no pipes or lift stations east of 214th Avenue East, which prevents construction unless a developer or developers pay to install the pipes, presently estimated to be at least $3.5 million.
Property owners in the area have complained that the requirement to install the sewer is preventing them form being able to sell or develop their land because of the additional cost.
Because of this, the city council has been working for several years on developing a solution, which now seems to focus on a utility latecomers’ agreement through which the city would finance most of the initial cost of the construction and charge future developments to hook in.
State law states that a ULA must include a “substantial” partnership from private interest and the city has been trying to hash out exactly what constitutes “substantial” with thoughts ranging from 5 percent to 50 percent.
During the workshop, the council seemed to come to a consensus that
“In my mind, it doesn’t have to be hundreds of thousands of dollars, it just has to be substantial,” Councilmember James Rackley said, adding that he is for “the lowest number the council will accept.”
Rackley has stated his belief that Eastown represents the city’s future and said he has the “utmost confidence in the area growing.”
Other councilmembers did not fully share Rackley’s optimistic view.
Concilmember Mark Hamilton said his primary focus is to make sure whatever number the council approves is one that can be managed without having to raise rates if development does not happen as quickly as expected.
“I’m for it, but I’m for it only if the utility can pay for it,” Hamilton said. “It’s going to be a long time before we see any money coming in from that.”
Councilmember Randy McKibbin, who in the past has said he does not necessarily support the entire city paying for a relative few to be able to sell their land, even if it may benefit the city in the long run, agreed with Hamilton.
“I’ve never been a believer – even in good times – that if you build it they will come,” Councilmember Randy McKibbin said. “It’s not that I don’t want sewers in Eastown; I do. I just go along with it not being on the backs of the ratepayers.”
Property owners said they were encouraged by the discussion, which ended with at east four members of the council saying they would support a minimum of 5 percent from the owners if they brought a deal forward.
“I feel like we’re making some progress,” said Roger Watt, who owns the Emerald Links driving range and functions as an unofficial spokesperson for several property owners working to make a deal. “At least now we have a better sense of the numbers.”
Watt said though it will still be difficult to get a large sum of money from such a diverse group of property owners, many seem ready to participate.
“It’s still a big number to some of us property owners, but at least we know what it is,” he said.
