Granite Falls council adopts six-month sewer connection moratorium

The Granite Falls City Council on Oct. 4 adopted Ordinance No. 1043-2023, imposing a six-month moratorium on new sewer connections to allow staff to resolve project timing and review bids related to upgrades at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Councilmember Tom FitzGerald moved to adopt the ordinance; Councilmember David Griggs seconded and the motion carried.

City Manager Brent Kirk told the council staff needs time to align construction schedules and financing. He said a loan from the Washington State Department of Ecology is in place but that the status of a potential federal grant remains uncertain, and staff will follow up with proposed updates to the franchise/cost-of-service (FCS) rate schedules for sewer service.

The moratorium pauses new connections while the city finalizes procurement and funding steps for treatment-plant work. The council entered the moratorium following a public hearing that recorded no oral or written testimony. FitzGerald’s motion to adopt the ordinance authorized the mayor to sign the document.

Next steps identified by the city include finalizing bid awards and monitoring grant and loan conditions; staff also signaled forthcoming formal rate-schedule changes for sewer customers.