Island County commissioners convene Water Utility Coordinating Committee to begin review of county water plan

The Island County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt Resolution C0826 to convene a Water Utility Coordinating Committee (WUC), a panel the county must assemble under state law to review the coordinated water system plan.

Dr. Chris Kelly of Island County Public Health, introduced by the chair, told commissioners the committee is "made up of, 4 voting members. So, county commissioner, a member of [the] public health department ... a member of the planning department and then 1 member ... who represents a system with at least 50 connections." Kelly said the WUC will review consultant recommendations and, if the committee agrees an update is needed, "provide a resolution to the board of county commissioners to sign off on in updating it." The WUC must establish bylaws that will set the process for selecting the service-provider seat and any non-voting participants, Kelly said.

Commissioners asked how the WUC differs from the county's prior Water Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). Kelly said the RAC was a citizen advisory committee, while the WUC's membership and duties are defined by state law and therefore require specific seats. She told the board the first WUC meeting would be held within 60 days of the board's approval and that the committee would set its own timeline; if the WUC decides no update is needed it could reconvene every five years for a review.

Commissioner Johnson moved adoption of Resolution C0826; Commissioner St. Clair seconded. The board voted in favor.

What happens next: Public health will begin convening the WUC, draft bylaws for membership and selection of the service-provider seat, and schedule the committee's first meeting within 60 days. The board discussed designating a commissioner to attend that first meeting to satisfy the quorum requirement.

Authors and sources: The account is based on the island-county Board of County Commissioners meeting transcript; direct quotations are attributed to Dr. Chris Kelly and the commissioners present.