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Commissioners approve three sewer/water franchise actions and name Whidbey News‑Times official legal newspaper
Summary
Island County approved three five‑year sewer/water franchise renewals/transfers (PW2024‑0172, PW2025‑0002, PW2025‑0035) and awarded the county's 2026 legal‑notice contract to the Whidbey News‑Times after staff presented bid comparisons and franchise details.
The Island County Board of Commissioners approved several routine franchise renewals and transfers and awarded the county's official legal newspaper for 2026 during its April 6 meeting.
County staff presented two bids for the county's official legal newspaper as required by RCW 36.72.075 and compared fixed and open rates. Staff noted the county spent roughly $114,000 on legal notices in 2025 (up from $96,000 in 2024). After discussion about fixed versus open rates and community coverage, the board voted to award the 2026 legal‑notice contract to the Whidbey News‑Times.
On franchises, public works staff presented three items:
• Katherine Ginn sewer franchise renewal, PW2024‑0172 (South Whidbey): a five‑year franchise renewal for a 700‑foot section of county right‑of‑way. No public comment was received and the board approved the renewal.
• Jan and Robert O'Daniel sewer franchise transfer, PW2025‑0002 (northern Camano Island): staff said the span was about 620 feet; commissioners approved the standard transfer after confirming easement arrangements and parcel connections.
• Blankenship / Bridal water franchise transfer, PW2025‑0035 (Camano Island): staff described a small system with multiple wells and two parcels; commissioners discussed pressure‑testing requirements and how franchise standards apply to small systems versus Group A public water systems. The board approved the transfer and directed staff to continue work implementing franchise testing cycles (currently five years during transition, with a planned 10‑year cycle thereafter).
County and public‑health staff said franchise agreements are being used to ensure systems that use the public right‑of‑way meet basic pressure‑testing and leakage standards to protect roads and promote water conservation. Public works staff also said parcel numbers for franchiseed parcels are being added to a master database to make franchise records easier to find during title searches and permitting.
All three franchise items and the newspaper award were approved by voice vote during the meeting.
