Staff previews Sunnyslope annexation of Best Road Mutual Water Company; resident urges merger after years of failing wells
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Summary
LAFCO staff briefed the commission on Sunnyslope County Water District’s proposed annexation of the Best Road Mutual Water Company ahead of a Dec. 11 public hearing. Staff said the project (247 acres, 48 parcels, ~133 residents) received a $3.4 million DWR grant; resident testimony described arsenic and repeated boil-water orders.
LAFCO staff on Nov. 13 gave commissioners an informational briefing on a proposed annexation: Sunnyslope (Sunny Slope) County Water District has applied to annex the Best Road Mutual Water Company territory. The presentation was a pre-hearing information item; the commission will consider a formal public hearing on Dec. 11.
Staff said the annexation area covers about 247 acres and 48 rural-residential parcels with roughly 133 residents. Sunny Slope has applied to extend its distribution system after Best Road reported repeated boil-water orders, two failing wells and water-quality problems. The Department of Water Resources provided a $3,400,000 grant and a small-community drought-relief award to fund the distribution extension, staff said.
Staff described environmental review as complete: the Sunny Slope district acted as lead agency and filed notices of exemption with San Benito County (exemptions cited: existing facilities annexation and organizational change without expansion). The annexation package also includes a consolidation agreement to transfer Best Road assets, an interdistrict agreement authorizing exports from Sunnyslope Zones 3 and 6, and a property-tax-sharing agreement with no property-tax exchange.
Julian Rogers, president of Best Road Mutual Water Company, told the commission his community has battled water quality and supply failures for years, including arsenic and iron and manganese issues and repeated regulatory pressure. “We have arsenic. We have failing wells…It’s been difficult,” Rogers said, and he expressed support for the Sunnyslope connection and the grant-funded solution.
Staff said there are no new assessments or debt proposed for Best Road residents, no identified adverse fiscal or environmental impacts, and Sunnyslope’s existing rate structure will apply when service is extended. Staff also noted that because Sunny Slope is expanding service into territory inside its sphere of influence, final approval will include analyses required by law and LAFCO policy.
Commissioners asked for additional material and staff said a detailed staff report will be provided before the Dec. 11 public hearing to analyze all statutory and policy factors.
The commission did not take a vote Nov. 13; the annexation will return for a public hearing and formal action on Dec. 11.
