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Hannah Heights homeowners seek county franchise to connect contaminated community well
Summary
Hannah Heights homeowners asked the council for a utility franchise to install a 0.9-mile waterline along Baylor Hill Road to connect a newly purchased well to their storage tank after PFAS contamination of their community well; staff said the HOA would fund construction and a public hearing and second touch will follow.
A Hannah Heights homeowners’ association representative told the San Juan County Council on Aug. 5 that the community needs a utility franchise to run about 0.9 miles of two-inch diameter waterline along Baylor Hill Road to connect a newly purchased well to an existing storage tank.
In public access time, Richard Daley described living for two years with highly contaminated water after the community well serving about 44 people tested with elevated PFAS levels. Daley told the council the homeowners association purchased a property with a well and is engineering a plan to convey water along county right-of-way to their storage tank. "This is a critical, life support system ... We intend to be available for any questions," Daley said in public comment.
At a later first touch staff presentation, deputy county engineer Jeff Sharp explained the franchise request: the installation would be within the county right-of-way along Baylor Hill Road, would not serve other Baylor Hill Road properties, and the homeowners association will pay for design and construction. "They wouldn't be serving any customers along Baylor Hill Road. It would be simply conveying water from the well over to their existing storage tank and connecting to their existing water system," Sharp said. Staff said the next steps are a second touch with a draft franchise agreement, prosecuting-attorney review and a noticed public hearing as required by county code.
Clarifying details: Staff said the HOA's consultant is designing the line and the HOA has secured funding for construction; staff will return with a formal draft agreement and public hearing date. Council members asked that staff confirm funding sources and encouraged expediting the process for residents who have been without safe water.
Outcome/next steps: Council did not act on the franchise at this meeting but indicated support for a public hearing and asked staff to prepare the franchise agreement and notice. Staff said they will bring a second-touch packet including a revised franchise agreement and legal review.
Ending: Council members thanked residents for pursuing a solution and asked staff to expedite the public hearing and review process for the Hannah Heights franchise application.
