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Island County commissioners unanimously renew three water-district franchises
Summary
The Board of Island County Commissioners approved five-year franchise renewals for Camano Vista, Driftwood Shores and Ledgewood Beach water districts, citing standard five-year terms and no public comments; commissioners raised future climate-retreat planning for shoreline systems.
The Board of Island County Commissioners approved franchise renewals for three local water districts at its March 17 regular session, voting unanimously to extend five-year agreements for the Camano Vista, Driftwood Shores and Ledgewood Beach water systems.
Ed C. Wester, County Engineer, described the Camano Vista Water District renewal as “a renewal … about 179 connections with about 203 available,” served by eight wells and stretching roughly 2.2 miles of county roads. After a brief public hearing with no commenters, a motion to approve the Camano Vista renewal (referenced in the meeting as PW2025Dash0157) passed by voice vote.
The Driftwood Shores renewal covers two county roads, with 118 of 159 connections already in place and less than one mile of county right-of-way, Wester said. During discussion, a commissioner asked whether franchises in shoreline areas should be required to include a “retreat and replacement plan” to address potential shoreline retreat and climate impacts; Wester said no formal retreat plan is established at this time but acknowledged it “is a very good point.” The board approved the Driftwood Shores renewal (referenced as PW20250105 in the meeting) by unanimous voice vote after a public hearing with no speakers.
Wester presented the Ledgewood Beach Water District renewal as serviced by three wells, covering about 2.5 miles of county roads and with 132 of 189 connections in place. Commissioners asked about well locations, which Wester said were not identified in the presentation. The board approved the Ledgewood Beach renewal (PW20250144) by unanimous voice vote after no public commenters appeared.
Chair announcements at the meeting included scheduling an executive session at 11:30 a.m. under RCW 42.30.110(1)(b) to discuss possible real estate purchase or lease. The board later recessed into that executive session and extended it twice before adjourning at 12:15 p.m.
Votes at a glance: the board approved all three franchise renewals by unanimous voice vote (Camano Vista — PW2025Dash0157; Driftwood Shores — PW20250105; Ledgewood Beach — PW20250144). The meeting record shows three affirmative voice responses for each motion and no recorded no or abstain votes.
The meeting materials and the county engineer’s presentation supplied connection counts, well counts and mileage for the affected systems; no public comments were recorded during the hearings. One commissioner said these shoreline franchise renewals highlight planning topics that may need attention in the county’s comprehensive plan, including whether franchise agreements in vulnerable shoreline areas should require retreat or replacement plans to address climate impacts.
The board announced no public statement would be made following the executive session.
