Progress seen in Freeland

The Freeland community should be very proud to hear what the Freeland Water and Sewer District has accomplished since January 2012 with Marilynn  Abrahamson and Lou Malzone as new commissioners and Eric Hansen (incumbent commissioner). What it means to residents of Freeland is significant cost savings and common sense decision making.

The Holmes Harbor Mobile Home Park has been reclassified from commercial to residential. They are now saving almost half on their water bills, a welcome relief to many of the low income residents.

Island County sales tax grant funds are no longer being used to pay for engineers and consultants for an oversized, overpriced sewer plan. A new civil engineering firm will be selected soon that better reflects the goals of the current board of commissioners. The contract with the president of the Freeland Chamber of Commerce to seek grant money for the $40 million sewer was also not renewed.

A new attorney was hired who specializes in water utility law/land use planning and attends monthly meetings. The commissioners have attended various training sessions sponsored by the Washington Association of Sewer and Water Districts on utility law and district finances. They are the first FWSD commissioners to do so.

Richard D. Delmonte
Freelannd

 

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