In a recent front page article about the controversy at Snohomish County Public Utility District brings up an interesting question (“Logan is PUD board president again, but it was unanimous,” The Herald, Dec. 21). Maybe it is time to expand to a five-members PUD Board with two at-large positions that serve four-year terms. Snohomish County PUD is the largest public utility in Washington state and 12th largest in U.S., it is just too much to ask three people to govern such a huge organization on behalf of us.
A PUD is a community-owned and created by a vote of the people under RCW 54. It is very important that Commissioner Rebecca Wolfe who represents the environmental voters must be heard and respected. However, PUD after all is a “business” and need to balance with the budget shortfalls and keeping the rate low. With the additional two commissioners, the board can bring in additional diverse backgrounds to take care of business.
This also solve the quorum problem. A commissioner now can speak to a fellow commissioner and not be accused of collusion. Commissioner Sid Logan is right that based on RCW 54.12.090, the commission shall elect a president. I know the commission will resolve this problem for the public good. I hope they will consider expanding the commission. I do not think the people who chartered the PUD in 1930 could have image it would be a $ 700 million enterprise that has expanded to include broadband telecommunications service.
David Chan
Everett
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