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Island County approves two five-year septic/sewer franchise transfers on Whidbey Island
Summary
The Island County Board approved two franchise transfers (PW20240208 and PW20240209) for privately owned septic/sewer distribution systems on Whidbey Island, each issued as interim five-year terms pending future testing and dye tests at renewal.
The Island County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 6 approved two franchise transfers for privately owned septic/sewer distribution systems on Whidbey Island, issuing each as a five-year term under the county's interim franchise policy.
Public works staff (addressed in the meeting as Sylvester) said transfer PW20240208 covered a system in Freeland purchased in 2020; the original franchise had been set to expire in 2030 but the transfer was processed as part of a backlog and limited to a five-year term to allow franchise holders time to prepare for new testing requirements that the county plans to enforce by 2028.
A motion to approve the PW20240208 transfer for the Clifford and Sandra Allen Living Trust was made and seconded and passed by voice vote.
The board then considered transfer PW20240209 for a septic distribution system in Oak Harbor (West Beach). Staff said the franchise had expired in 2016 and runs roughly 1,600 to 1,700 feet along county road and serves multiple residences via an off-site drain field. Environmental health manager Heather Cordium told the board the drain field contains multiple individual "home runs" (she estimated "8 or 9" connections, noting she would confirm the file) and that the drain field is perched high enough that, based on the county's current projections, it should remain serviceable through 2100. Cordium also said property owners will need to pass a dye test at the next renewal to demonstrate effluent reaches the drain field properly.
After questions about sea-level-rise vulnerability and recent repairs to transport lines, the board approved PW20240209 for Abdullah and Catherine Vafiiz (transcript spelling) by voice vote.
Both transfers were described by staff as administrative transfers or renewals (catch-up actions) rather than large infrastructure projects; commissioners noted the five-year duration is an interim measure while the county brings franchise holders into compliance with updated testing protocols.
