Your PUD News Release
Monitor water project approved
Chelan County PUD
News Release
6/25/2007
PUD commissioners Monday approved forming a local utility district to finance construction of a water system for Monitor and the surrounding area.
The board voted 3-1 in favor of the $6.5 million project, with the understanding that the District will absorb up to $800,000 in internal costs if an expected $600,000 in additional grant funding is not received.
Commissioner Ann Congdon, who supports the project, voted no because of staff concern that the caveat on internal costs might put grant funding at risk. Commissioner Werner Janssen abstained.
Nearly 100 community members from Monitor attended the hearing Monday. More than 20 people spoke.
Those in favor of the water system noted the need for fire flows and voiced concerns about water quality from private wells. Those opposed were concerned about cost, growth in the rural community and that community members weren’t able to vote on the project.
On May 7, Monitor Community Council members presented petitions signed by 61 percent of the property owners asking the PUD to form an LUD for the project. The signatures represent 76 percent of the land that would be included in the district.
Other community members presented an opposing petition Monday.
Efforts to improve the drinking water supply for Monitor, west of Wenatchee, date back to the early 1990s. The new water system is designed to serve up to 225 customers across 1,400 acres. Construction, due to start late this fall, will include 7.25 miles of new pipe to carry water from the existing PUD system in lower Sunnyslope to Monitor.
Working with the Monitor Community Council, Chelan County and the Port of Chelan County, the PUD has secured $3.8 million in grants and $2.7 million in low-interest government loans to pay for construction of the system.
***
PUD commissioners have set a special meeting from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 28, to attend the Manson Customer Partnership Group meeting at the Manson Parks and Recreation District office, 312 S. Quetiloquasoon Ave.
The next regular meeting of the PUD commission is at 1 p.m. on July 2, 2007, in the boardroom at PUD headquarters, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.
Most PUD commission meetings are recorded, and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at www.chelanpud.org.
Kimberlee Craig
Public Information Officer
509-661-4320, direct line
509-679-6858, cell
kimc@chelanpud.org