Water commissioner’s self-imposed term limit

As one of your elected Lakehaven Water and Sewer Commissioners, I wish to take this opportunity to thank Lakehaven customers for allowing me to serve you for the past 16 years. As a result of a self-imposed term limit, I will not seek re-election this fall.

Come November, three Lakehaven Water and Sewer Commissioner positions will be up for election. I fully expect that two Commissioners will seek re-election, leaving my position as an open seat. With a filing deadline in May, it is not too late to consider running for the Board.

Lakehaven is a different kind of governmental agency. As a special purpose district, we operate more like a business than an agency of government. Rather than impose taxes, all of our revenues are derived by providing drinking water and collecting and treating wastewater within a service area of approximately 35 square miles.

It has been a real honor for me to serve as a commissioner. I believe that Lakehaven is the best run special purpose district in the state. We employ almost 120 dedicated people serving the community in many different jobs and capacities. We continue to have some of the lowest rates in the region without sacrificing the need to invest in facilities to meet future needs.

Lakehaven has some interesting changes on the horizon. We have a new Administration Headquarters Complex in the permitting stage with the City of Federal Way. We are in the early phase of a capital program of about $250 million to upgrade our two wastewater treatment plants to meet future environmental regulations and the growing demand from an expanding service area. We are also upgrading and replacing aging infrastructure in other parts of the sewer system, as well as installing new water mains where older pipes are nearing the end of their useful lives, with a cost of several million dollars per year.

If you are interested in helping your community and keeping the environment clean and secure, please consider becoming a commissioner at Lakehaven. Attend a meeting or two, see what is going on, and get involved. You will be very glad you did — I know I am.

Ron Nowicki

Commissioner, Position 5

Lakehaven Water and Sewer