I wrote in this column last year (May/June) about the final touches underway on the plans for the District’s new Headquarters Building. As shown in that issue, the building was just a steel frame at that time. As I write in the first part of February 2023, some of our staff are just days away from moving into the building. The Headquarters Building brings Lakehaven into the 21st century and is large enough so that all of our important departments will be located together. It has modern efficiencies and is ergonomically friendly. The customer-friendly lobby provides a convenient place for staff to interact with customers to answer questions, receive payments, and review development plans. It also has a well-organized Boardroom for Board and other meetings (staff and industry training, etc.).
This state-of-the-art building will serve Lakehaven for the next 100 years or more. One very nice feature is the large clock in the lobby. The clock was originally part of the “Old World Square” – located in the first Federal Way Shopping Center. The clock is the property of the Federal Way Historical Society, who have graciously allowed it to be permanently displayed in our building. Eventually there will be information displayed that will explain the history of the clock and show pictures of where it was originally located.
Lakehaven plans to have an open house this spring to show customers their new building. Current plans are to offer a monthly public tour of the new building, beginning towards the first part of the summer. Watch our website for more information.
One of the things the commissioners are most proud of is that Lakehaven received an AAA rating from Standard & Poor’s on our last bond issuance. We are the only local government entity in the area, and one of the few water/sewer districts in the state, to have this rating, the highest attainable by a municipal borrower. By lowering our borrowing costs, achieving this rating saves you money, which helps to keep our rates one of the lowest in the area. We also saved money by selling the bonds before the recent hike in interest rates. Combined with the rating, the timing literally saves millions of dollars in debt service costs.
After over a year and a half of site work and construction, our staff and Commissioners are excited to move in! For the first time in our history, we will have the majority of our staff consolidated in one place. Additionally, the Board of Commissioners will now be meeting in the same building that houses the rest of our staff. We trust that you too will enjoy this new, modern, energy-efficient, ergonomically friendly building.
Keep an eye out for information on opportunities to tour the Headquarters Building. We are proud of it and hope you will be too!