Commissioner's
Corner
Ed Stewart
 With this
being my first chance since the elections last November to communicate
with District customers through the Newsletter, I wanted to take this
opportunity to reiterate my goals as a member of the Lakehaven Utility
District's Board of Commissioners and to provide you with some information
about your water and sewer utility.
My primary goal remains to provide efficient and reliable water and sewer
service to you, the rate payer, at the most economical rates. The
provision of these services must meet, and be consistent with, the
regulatory mandates for drinking water quality and wastewater treatment
imposed by the various governmental agencies that regulate water and sewer
utilities.
The Lakehaven Utility District provides water and sewer service over a
broad and geographically diverse area. The District encompasses
approximately forty (40) square miles of service area. This area includes
the City of Federal Way and portions of the cities of Des Moines, Kent,
Auburn, Pacific, Milton, Edgewood and unincorporated areas of King County
(and to a small extent, Pierce County). The area of service is generally
bounded by South 272nd Street on the north and the King County-Pierce
County line on the south. The Puget Sound serves as the western boundary
and the westerly crest of the Auburn Valley generally comprises the
eastern border. Approximately 26,000 water connections and 19,000 sewer
connections exist over the many miles of water and sewer mains running
throughout the area.
The District has 22 groundwater wells to
furnish water to the water supply system. The District also maintains
interties with the City of Tacoma and other water systems from which to
draw additional water when necessary. Water obtained from both sources is
stored in the twelve above-ground storage tanks located throughout the
District. While located and designed to be as visually unobtrusive as
possible, many of these tanks are visible as you drive around the area.
The sewer utility operates two secondary wastewater treatment plants. The
largest is the Lakota Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is located just up
from the Lakota Beach area. The other plant is known as the Redondo
Wastewater Treatment Plant and is located towards the south end of the
Redondo Beach area.
The District also owns a number of
emergency electric power generators, some stationary and some
trailer-mounted, that can supply power to the water wells during periods
when normal power is interrupted due to storms or other conditions causing
power outages. These trailer-mounted generators, as well as other
stationary ones, are also available to supply power to sewer system lift
stations during emergency conditions.
The District also owns and has qualified operators to operate several
items of specialized equipment, such as a truck-mounted camera and video
system which permits interior inspection of sewer main pipelines for
defects such as broken joints, root intrusion, etc. The related chemical
grouting equipment also allows the District to plug the defective pipe
joints that are found to seal leaks and prevent infiltration of ground
water into the system.
I believe with the infrastructure and
employee capabilities that the District possesses, that we will be able to
maintain reasonable rates and avoid the major rate increases that are
being considered by many of our neighboring municipal utilities.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve!
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Fall is the time of the year during which legislative plans and
strategies for the upcoming session are generally finalized. As we have
learned over the years, once the session starts in January, the pace is
hectic and the opportunity for meaningful contemplation and planning has
long passed. By the time of the next Newsletter, we should be able to
publish our 2003 Legislative Agenda.
We would like to extend our thanks and best wishes to MaryAnn Mitchell
on her retirement from the Legislature. She has served our community well
and will be missed in Olympia.
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DISTRICT SAYS FAREWELL TO
LONG TIME EMPLOYEE
Don Heritage, Lakehaven's Cross-Connection
Specialist, passed away on June 16th, following a long battle with cancer.
Don began his career with the District in January 1976 and retired in
December 2001. He helped to create the District's cross connection program
in the early 1980's and was a founding member of the Puget Sound regional
cross connection group. He performed many other duties over his long
tenure, including working on Lakehaven's installation and maintenance
programs. Don was very active in the public relations arena for Lakehaven.
He was instrumental in bringing the main cleaning display to the public's
attention at such venues as the SeaTac Mall Safety Show, the Red White
& Blue Festival, Family Fest and in classrooms throughout Federal Way.
He especially enjoyed working with children and was involved with several
youth programs in the Federal Way area. He was a representative, through
his church, of an organization called "Children to Love", and
made several trips to a Romanian orphanage to take them much needed food,
clothing, and medical supplies. His many friends at Lakehaven will miss
Don and we were honored to have such a talented, caring individual
employed by the District.
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SAFETY AWARDS
In an effort to encourage safety in the work place, the District
conducts a Safety Incentive Awards Program each year. Awards are given to
employees who practice safe work habits and who generally encourage other
employees to do the same. Employees are also recognized for offering
safety suggestions throughout the year. District management is pleased to
announce that the following employees were selected for these awards this
year:
WASTEWATER OPERATIONS & FIELD OPS:
- Jack Housley
- Craig Hurley
WATER OPERATIONS/ENGINEERING:
SAFETY SUGGESTIONS:
- Dan Kuipers
- Lee Schumacher
- John Vindivich
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SAFETY REMINDER
On occasion we hear in the news that persons claiming to be utility
workers have gained entry to homes for illegal purposes. Please be aware
that our field crews are required to wear uniforms to make them easily
identifiable and they carry picture identification cards. If someone in
uniform knocks on your door, you have seen their I.D. card and you still
are not sure they are with the District, please call our office for
confirmation before giving them access to your home.
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Kids Corner
This is an easy-to-make Pine Cone Bird Feeder that even young
children can help make.
For each Pine Cone Bird Feeder you will need:
- A large, open pine cone
- Vegetable shortening, lard or suet
- Oats or corn meal
- Bird seed
- A few feet of string
Tie a few feet of string to a pine cone. Cover the pine cone with the
mixture below. Roll the pinecone in birdseed and then suspend it from a
tree branch outside.
Food mixture: Mix ½ cup vegetable shortening, lard or suet with 2
½ cups cornmeal or uncooked oats until well blended. Optional: add dried
fruit (chopped up), chopped nuts, seeds (especially sunflower and millet),
and/or suet, which are high-energy bird foods.
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Your Board of
Commissioners
Tom Jovanovich - President
Dick Mayer - Vice President
Ed Stewart - Secretary
Beverly J. Tweddle - Commissioner
Donald L. P. Miller - Commissioner
Regular Board of Commissioners meetings are held at:
Lakehaven Center
31531 First Ave. S.
Federal Way at 6 p.m. |
