SEQUIM — Clallam County and the city of Sequim have approved a long-term pact that secures wastewater treatment for the unincorporated hamlet of Carlsborg.
In a joint meeting Monday night in Sequim, the Board of County Commissioners and Sequim City Council unanimously passed a 30-year interlocal agreement for the county’s use of the city’s sewer.
The agreement outlines the county’s right to discharge wastewater into the city’s water reclamation facility and the city’s right to get paid for it.
“It’s just a big milestone,” said Commissioner Jim McEntire, whose district includes the Sequim-Dungeness Valley.
“It’s an example of intergovernmental cooperation I think is a model for the future.”
Sequim City Manager Steve Burkett described the agreement as a “real significant public policy decision.”
“I think this speaks something very positive about the relationship between the county organization and Sequim organization and the council members and the Board of County Commissioners,” Burkett said as the agreement was being signed Monday night.
County officials intend to build a pump station near Carlsborg Road to collect wastewater and pipe it to the city system by 2016.
Initially, the county will pay the city a 0.98-cent-per-gallon metered rate for operations and maintenance.
Fees will be revised as long-term forecasts change.
Officials estimate that sewer bills for Carlsborg customers will be about $70 per month.
Costs will be finalized in a sewer-use ordinance that county commissioners will consider in a public hearing early next year.
“There’s going to be zero impact on the taxpayers for the capital costs,” McEntire said.
A June facility plan estimated the total cost of piping wastewater from Carlsborg to Sequim would be $17.2 million over 15 years.
That’s $4.5 million less than an earlier proposal to build a new treatment plant in Carlsborg itself.
“It made a lot of sense, and it turned out exactly that way when you look at the numbers, for us to just connect to the city’s system,” McEntire said in a Tuesday telephone interview.
“Why spend money twice when once will do?”
He added: “Last night was just kind of a celebration of common sense, I think, than anything else.”
The interlocal agreement was developed by county Public Works Administrative Director Bob Martin, Sequim Public Works Director Paul Haines and consultant Gordon Wilson of FCS Group.
It was vetted by attorneys from both governments.
“Everybody is operating in total good faith,” County Administrator Jim Jones said in a commissioners’ work session Monday.
“Everybody recognizes that at this stage it’s in both parties best interests to make this work, long term and short term.
“I truly believe we have a real good document here that everybody’s worked hard on, Bob [Martin] and Paul [Haines] in particular, and then the attorneys on both sides.”
Clallam County will use a $10 million loan that the Clallam County Public Utility District secured from the state Public Works Trust Fund to help pay for the infrastructure.
The loan, which has since been transferred to the county, will be paid back over 20 years through a portion of the county’s opportunity fund for infrastructure projects.
Clallam County has committed an additional $4.3 million to the sewer.
By 2050, the Sequim option is projected to cost $41.2 million, compared with $54.1 million for Carlsborg treatment.
Martin has said Carlsborg waste would initially account for 1.71 percent of the city’s capacity and grow to 6.3 percent by 2036.
Without a sewer, businesses in the 560-acre Carlsborg Urban Growth Area would be restricted from expanding under the state Growth Management Act.
Carlsborg supports about 1,100 jobs. Most of its homes and businesses on septic systems.
The Sequim sewer was upgraded in 2009.
Meanwhile, the three commissioners on Tuesday noticed of a request for proposals for hearing examiner services.
Hearing Examiner Mark Nichols resigned Tuesday because he was sworn in as Clallam County prosecuting attorney.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
