Resident urges council to resolve long-running water hookup and annexation dispute

Virginia Tate told the council she and her family have lived in Coeur d'Alene for generations and that a promise tied to past development and Armstrong Park included water and sewer hookups when she was ready to connect. Tate said she pursued construction of a water main in 2020, prepared engineering plans as requested by the city, and was told the city would not allow the main under then-current circumstances. She described temporary above-ground hookups provided this year off a fire hydrant and said staff later told her she needed to annex to secure a permanent connection.

Tate said a neighbor’s lease with AT&T to place a 150–175-foot tower near her property line raised additional concerns about fire protection and whether AT&T should have paid to extend water service. She said the county reviewed hydrant locations and determined no additional fire protection was required under current circumstances. Tate said she filed paperwork and paid a $350 pre-annexation fee that the city cashed, and she expected the item on the Nov. 4 council docket but it was pulled and later required a water main extension to be brought in from the corner. She asked council to help resolve the issue and finalize a workable annexation agreement so she can complete an underground hookup before winter.

Deputy staff (Troy) responded in council remarks that staff had engaged extensively with Tate, provided a temporary hookup this summer, and believed Tate could be annexed; staff also said Tate had chosen not to enter into the annexation agreement process and that planning, fire and other departments had worked on the item. Council members asked what follow-up steps would be; staff said an annexation agreement was being prepared and that the issue had been worked on by multiple departments. A councilmember said staff will look into Tate's concerns.