Judge rules city breached contract with Lake Stevens Sewer District, district urges cooperation

Andrea Wright, president of the board of commissioners for the Lake Stevens Sewer District, told the City Council on June 10 that Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Apple ruled in favor of the Sewer District and found the city breached the existing contract between the two entities.

"Earlier today in Snohomish County Superior Court, Judge Apple ruled in favor of the Sewer District, finding that the city of Lake Stevens breached the existing legal contract between our two entities by attempting to unilaterally assume the district," Wright said. She told the council the dispute has spanned five years and has cost the city and the district more than $1,000,000 in combined legal fees.

Wright said the ruling "brings closure to a long, costly, and unproductive chapter" and urged the council to move forward collaboratively. "Our focus should now be on planning for a seamless transition of services over the next eight years," she said, adding that the existing legal agreement remains in place and provides a framework for shared responsibilities.

Wright also said staff resources were diverted from infrastructure and community projects because of the litigation and that the district is committed to "fostering a stronger, more cooperative relationship with the city." The remarks were delivered during the meeting's public comment section; the council did not take any formal action on the remarks during the meeting.

City officials did not announce any immediate administrative or operational changes during the session. Wright concluded by asking the council to "set aside past differences and prioritize the future together."