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Pierce County Council approves 10-year sewer franchise for South Fork Estates
Summary
On March 18, 2025, the Pierce County Council voted 6-0 to approve ordinance O2025-503S, granting the South Fork Estates Homeowners Association a nonexclusive 10-year franchise to construct, operate and maintain a sanitary sewer pipeline in county right-of-way for a 77-unit community north of Orting.
Pierce County Council on March 18, 2025, unanimously approved ordinance O2025-503S, granting the South Fork Estates Homeowners Association a nonexclusive, 10-year franchise to construct, operate and maintain a sanitary sewer pipeline system in county right-of-way. The roll-call vote was 6-0 in favor.
The council’s action lets the county executive execute the franchise agreement. Council staff told members the franchise covers installation of a sanitary sewer pipeline along and under specified public roads and rights-of-way serving a 77-residence community near the confluence of the Puyallup and Carbon rivers, just north of Orting. A map of the area is noted in the council packet (page 55). Council staff said the county engineer reviewed the application and recommended granting the franchise. The applicant paid a $2,500 application fee and council staff provided both an equity and a fiscal analysis in the packet.
Council staff briefed the council before the public hearing. Mr. Swanson described the measure as an authorization “to construct, operate, and maintain a sanitary sewer pipeline system in the county’s right of way.” Tom McMullen of Planning and Public Works was present to answer questions and said he had nothing specific to add. There were no public comments during the hearing.
The packet materials described the neighborhood as bounded by South Fork Road East and a Puget Sound Energy easement, and said the community uses a shared septic system and drain field. The ordinance treats a community septic system as a sanitary sewer franchise for county franchise purposes because, staff said, the pipes share the same status in the county right-of-way and roadways.
The clerk recorded the yea votes as Council member Denson, Council member Herrera, Council member Kuver, Council member Ayala, Council member Yambe and Chair Hitchen. With six ayes and zero nays, the motion carried and the ordinance was adopted.
The ordinance directs the county executive to execute the franchise agreement; the council packet lists further implementation details and location maps but does not specify construction start dates, contractor names, or a detailed funding plan.
