Tag Archives: Winslow sewer plant

Ratepayers alliance refiles lawsuit against city

Here’s my story on the latest in the Bainbridge Ratepayers Alliance v. City of Bainbridge Island saga:

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND — The Bainbridge Ratepayers Alliance has sent a reminder to the city that their legal fight isn’t over.

Late last week, the alliance re-filed the lawsuit it initially brought against the city in April 2009.

The lawsuit reasserts the alliance’s claim that the city misappropriated utility funds, alliance member Dick Allen said.

The lawsuit’s key assertion — that the city cannot pursue bond funding to upgrade the Winslow sewer plant — was thrown out by a Kitsap County judge in September.

The alliance appealed, but later agreed to put aside certain objections that were preventing the city from obtaining the bond. The agreement also halted a planned sewer rate surcharge aimed at covering the blocked funding.

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Lawsuit could force city to triple sewer rates

The city is drafting an ordinance that would allow it to double or possibly triple Winslow sewer rates to fill a funding gap for the nearly-completed sewer plant upgrade.

A lawsuit and recent appeal from the Bainbridge Ratepayers Alliance has effectively blocked the city’s ability obtain the bond-funded portion of the project.

“The lawsuit appeal needlessly risks a financial crisis for the city and its sewer ratepayers,” City Councilman Barry Peters said.

Alliance members say the emergency rate hike would be unfair to sewer customers.

“To threaten them because we’re seeking justice and due democratic process is astounding,” said alliance member Sally Adams.

Read the full story here.

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