MUKILTEO – A pair of utility districts that provide sewer and water service to Mukilteo residents may come together under the same roof.
Commissioners of the Olympus Terrace Sewer District and Mukilteo Water District are scheduled to vote in April whether to merge the two districts under the water district’s name.
Doing so would consolidate the payments of customers from the two districts onto a single bill. It would also allow the districts to share employees, equipment purchases and other operating expenses, the districts’ general managers said.
It’s unlikely the merger would cause rates to change, but it could make rates more stable over time, they said.
“Long term, it would be effective to minimize rate impacts to the customer,” Mukilteo Water District general manager Dan Hammer said.
An open house about the merger has been scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the water district office at 7824 Mukilteo Speedway.
In addition to needing commissioners’ approvals, the merger plans would also need to be reviewed by the Snohomish County Council and the county’s boundary review board. The state departments of Health and Ecology would also need to review the plans.
The merger plans also need the approval of voters in the district. The plans would likely appear on this fall’s general election ballot, Olympus general manager Patrick Sorensen said.
In 2006, the Mukilteo Water District served 6,590 water connections. The Olympus Terrace Sewer District served 1,805 hookups. The Mukilteo Water District also supplies some sewer service north of Mukilteo.
The Mukilteo Water District’s sewer customers will not have to pay for repairs to the Big Gulch sewer line, a major sewer pipeline belonging to the Olympus district.
If the merger goes forward, the sewer district would move into the water district’s headquarters. The two offices are about a quarter-mile apart.
“I think it’s a good thing for the public, for the ratepayers,” Sorensen said. “There will be greater efficiencies in the long run. There will be some savings eventually. It won’t be right away, but the convenience factor initially will be better for everyone.”
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
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