As with most large and expensive public infrastructure projects, the effort to bring sewers to Freeland has been rife with problems. And the latest headache has proved itself a showstopper.
At least temporarily.
The recent emergence of unexpected expenses have, as feared, ballooned the costs to ratepayers to the point that they are now unaffordable by any reasonable standard. The Freeland Water and Sewer District commissioners subsequently agreed this week to hit the brakes and suspend all further design work. This was a prudent move, but what it can’t be is final. Freeland needs sewers and this is just another setback in what’s been a river of challenges. The commissioners must steel themselves to solving this problem, and figure out a way to make this project affordable. Similarly, state and county lawmakers must be ready to do their part, recognizing that this is their project too and be willing to help with the added costs.
Sewers in Freeland are a dream that’s existed for well over a decade. It’s seen several variations, from the famed and ultimately unsuccessful “$40 million” plan that encompassed the entire area to the latest machination that is phase 1A, a scaled-down version that addresses just the commercial core.
This $10.2 million plan was progressing swimmingly until a few months ago when the district learned its chosen effluent dispersal system would cost an extra $1 million to implement. It may also be more expensive over the long-term due to equipment lifespans.
Unfortunately, this discovery wasn’t made until after the district spent $800,000 on a 24-acre property that would house the treatment plant but also because it would work with the effluent drainage system. Though the board got many assurances from state and local authorities, along with those from its hired engineering firm, it agreed to use a relatively unknown technology — Vadose wells — and went ahead and bought the property. It seemed like a safe bet, but it’s now clear that it was a gamble that resulted in $1 million headache.
Under the current project budget, the cost overrun is transferred to ratepayers. A draft rate study cites a connection charge of $6,700 and a monthly cost of about $150 per unit of water. And that’s the optimistic forecast.
The good news is that the funding gap, now about $4 million, isn’t out of reach. The district has already asked the state for $3 million. The Legislature should honor this request, and perhaps more. The rules that require needed infrastructure for busy commercial areas like Freeland are, in fact, state rules. They’re in place for a good reason, but that mandate shouldn’t come without assistance. The last time we checked, Freeland residents contribute to the state’s capital project coffers too.
The county also has a hefty role here. Being unincorporated — Freeland is not a city — means the area is under the stewardship of the county commissioners. They’ve already helped greatly, committing $2.7 million earlier this year, but that shouldn’t be the end of their involvement, particularly if the state requests come up short. This is a county project, not just a sewer district one.
Finally, as Commissioner Helen Price Johnson noted, the federal government may be of help too. President-elect Donald Trump has said he wants to invest heavily in the nation’s infrastructure. If his promises become reality, Freeland should strive to become one of those beneficiaries.
The sewer commissioners were wise to halt additional public spending on this project, but this decision must not be permanent. The board, and elected officials from the county and state, must come together and, once and for all, get sewers in the ground.
