The city of Sumner is getting closer to finding a new water source.

At a special meeting June 22, City Council members unanimously passed an ordinance allowing the acquisition of property and to exercise the city’s eminent domain rights at 1115 Zehnder St., the location of Fleischman’s Vinegar plant in Sumner. The ordinance allows the city to use any or all of the property, but it’s most likely one to two acres will be needed.

City Attorney Brett Vinson said the city is in the process of negotiating with the property owner about using the land, and the passing of the ordinance is in case the city needs to use its eminent domain rights. Should an agreement be reached, the actions provided for in the ordinance won’t be necessary.

“The city is exercising the authority through eminent domain, which would be required to pay fair market value determined by appraisers,” Vinson said.

The well project is part of the city’s Central Well Project, which includes acquisition of three separate water rights and property needed to construct a municipal well.

Vinson said a test well needs to be dug and before this can happen, an application must be submitted to and approved by the Department of Ecology must approve an application must be submitted.

“They ultimately need to determine that there’s water in the existing basin and watershed,” he said.

Vinson said Sumner needs to go through extensive modeling with engineering firms in this process and even with the best of educated guesses, there is always the chance of disappointment in the form of a dry well.

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