Decision on merging three surface water programs is delayed

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, June 7, 2017

EVERETT — The Snohomish County Council delayed action Wednesday on a controversial plan to merge threesurface water programs into a single utility covering most unincorporated areas.

A hearing on the proposal is set to resume at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in council chambers in Everett.

County surface water staff have promoted the merger as a way to save $480,000 per year, mainly by reducing staff time. However, volunteers who serve on a clean-water advisory board for the Stillaguamish River watershed are upset that the plan calls for disbanding their board. They also have concerns that their rural part of the county could receive less money for drainage, water-quality and flood-control projects, something council members assured them would not happen.

Some critics of the change have questioned the amount of the savings. Part of the reason for the delay is to answer additional financial questions. The council also is considering a compromise to keep the advisory board, at least temporarily.