PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
PORT ANGELES — County residents who get some of their water from the city of Port Angeles could face reduced supplies as soon as Monday because of a conflict between the city and Clallam Public Utility District.
Utility district officials say 1,300 homes and businesses could be affected by the threatened shutdown.
Residents and business owners in the affected area get about 40 percent of their water from the city.
The City Council and Clallam Public Utility District commissioners remained at odds Tuesday over a contract for the utility district to supply water to the city.
Utility district commissioners unanimously rejected the proposed water supply contract during their afternoon meeting and Port Angeles Mayor Richard Headrick rejected an offer for a meeting between the two entities during a council meeting later in the day.
The point of contention is the city’s demand that new water customers or those upgrading service in the area outside the city limits sign an agreement not to contest future annexations that would go into effect once a new sewer line is installed east of the city limits.
Headrick, in refusing the utility district’s meeting offer, said the only thing for the utility district to do was decide, yes or no on the water supply contract.
Tuesday’s events set the stage for the city to shut off its water supply to the utility district in areas just east of the city limits soon as Monday.
