The future of the Winslow water utility has become one of the key debates in at least two of the four City Council races this year.
Candidates David Ward and Steve Bonkowski want to transfer the utility to the Poulsbo-based Kitsap Public Utility District, which has estimated it can cut water rates by 45 percent.
Incumbent Barry Peters (who faces Bonkowski in the race for the At-Large position) and Central Ward candidate Joe Levan (who is facing Ward) want to retain the utility, saying local control over water resources is preferable.
Local control supporters have also expressed concern that transferring the water utility may drive up sewer rates because the shared resources with the water utility would disappear.
The City Council is moving toward an initial 25 percent rate reduction, with more cuts planned in the near future. Read more about that in this story.
Peters is proposing that the city cut rates down to the level that KPUD is proposing.
But proponents of the transfer say the much smaller Winslow water utility can’t keep a high level of service if it cuts rates as low as KPUD.
So, what do you think? Head over to the right column (below the Facebook link) to cast your vote.
For the results of the last poll, head below.
The last Bainbridge Conversation poll asked which design was preferable for the Ferncliff Village affordable housing development, which is now taking shape north of the Ferncliff-Wing Point Way intersection.
The vast majority of respondents (61 percent) said they preferred the previous, more modern design.
Just under 40 percent said they like the more traditional, scaled back design that the project’s developer, Housing Resources Board, settled on.
my water bill is $120 minimum. I live in a place that rains more than it doesn’t. on what planet is that not a blatant problem? There is no question that the city miss-uses money it raises, repeatedly, people with money have undo influence on the council some even have partners on the council, only captain obvious would ask “I wonder if there is corruption?” The larger utility will be able to provide all of the overhead costs at pennies on the dollar, just the billing, repair equipment, staff alone, how many more people and dollars does Poulsbo need to add us? why does money even need to change hands, there’s been unrelenting blatant fraud for probably decades, just hand it over and walk away. I know people think fraud is a strong word but when you use money I pay for my water and sewer to do perk tests out of the service area and I pay for the flush of a kid at school whose parents have no water bill and ancient sewage pipes pump raw sewage into the harbor because our massive bill doesn’t leave enough money to stay on top of things, maybe its stupidity but the law doesn’t care, its still fraud.