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Resident asks Arlington council to urge school district to reconsider gravel‑mine sale, citing water risks
Summary
Heida Diefendorfer asked the council to send a formal communication to the Arlington Public Schools board asking it to withdraw from a purchase and sale agreement with Miles Sand and Gravel for land near the Stillaguamish River, citing alleged risks to Arlington's water supply and a contract deadline of Dec. 2, 2025.
Heida Diefendorfer addressed the council during public comment to ask the council to send a formal memorandum to the Arlington Public Schools board of directors regarding a purchase and sale agreement between the district and Miles Sand and Gravel Company for property at 9102 State Route 530 NE.
Diefendorfer said the proposed gravel mine and concrete batch plant have been under Snohomish County review for four years and have generated "substantial public opposition." She told council the city’s public works staff had testified about potential contamination risks to Arlington’s water supply from activities near the Stillaguamish River and warned that constructing a water treatment plant to address such contamination would be a multimillion‑dollar liability for the city and its taxpayers.
She noted the school district retains a contractual right to withdraw from the agreement by reimbursing Miles Sand and Gravel for permit expenses up to $400,000 and called that cost modest in comparison to the long‑term infrastructure risk she described. Diefendorfer said the agreement includes a contract deadline of Dec. 2, 2025, and asked the council for a response at next week’s meeting or earlier.
Where it stands: This was a public‑comment request. Council members did not take formal action at the meeting on this request; staff and council may consider whether to draft a communication to the school board ahead of the contract deadline.
