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Island County approves three franchise renewals; commissioners push for stricter oversight of small water systems
Summary
The Board of Island County Commissioners unanimously approved franchise renewals and a septic‑system franchise transfer but directed staff to develop stronger franchise standards and to work with Public Health on monitoring and funding mechanisms.
Island County commissioners on July 15 approved three franchise actions for small water and septic systems on Camano Island but pressed staff to tighten oversight of aging private and small public water systems.
County engineer Ed Seawastair presented three related items brought up as a backlog: a Camano Colony Water System renewal (about 2,600 linear feet of right‑of‑way and roughly 24 connections served by one well), a franchise transfer related to two parcels and a shared septic/drain‑field maintenance agreement in northern Camano, and a Pleasant View Water Company renewal (about 2,700 linear feet and 32 connections served by two wells). Seawastair told the board records show no road impacts along the affected road segments.
All three motions passed unanimously. The board used the county’s new template franchise term — a 10‑year initial term with a 10‑year extension option — but several commissioners said they want to use the renewal process to do more than maintain a list of franchises.
Commissioner Johnson pressed for stronger franchise conditions, including proof of funds for maintenance, evidence of leak monitoring, and a way to require repairs where systems show failures. “We were trying to use this franchise process as a review moment to say, ‘Hey — you need to repair your water system,’” Johnson said, adding that oversight will require better coordination with Public Health.
Seawastair said staff will present a proposed enhanced franchise process at the board’s upcoming work session; that proposal will include testing and monitoring protocols for future renewals and involve Public Health. Commissioners also asked staff to flag larger systems so the county can apply new standards or schedule earlier review where appropriate.
The transfer item documents a change in ownership that left the county’s franchise paperwork out of date; buyers had upgraded a drain field and recorded a maintenance agreement. Commissioners commended the parcels’ upland septic location and noted permitted repairs had been completed.
— Ending note: Staff will bring the proposed franchise‑process improvements to a work session and will coordinate with Public Health to design monitoring and possible fee or funding mechanisms to help small systems fund needed upgrades.
