By MADELYN FAIRBANKS
Published Aug. 22, 2012

Water district takeover talks continue in executive session
MONROE - Very few details were revealed last week on the ongoing acquisition discussion between Sky Meadow Water Association and the city.
In July, Sky Meadow initiated the discussion when it asked the city to take over water services for its 381 members. The water district would like to dissolve.
The discussion, though, took place behind closed doors in executive session because it involved the pricing of property.
Bill Walker, water association president, said nothing has been finalized.
Walker said if the city was to take over the small water district, the water quality and water source would remain the same. The only change that could occur is Sky Meadow customers might get better water pressure.
He also said he preferred not to go into much detail about the state of the potential transfer and only said that “there is an open negotiation to have Sky Meadow be taken over by the city of Monroe.”
Walker said the transfer would be beneficial for its members.
“If something catastrophic were to happen, it would be hard for us to do anything quickly, being a small water association,” Walker said.
Water rates may also go down for Sky Meadow customers.
“There’s always a cost reduction when you’re dealing with a larger customer base,” Walker said. “The city could probably service customers cheaper than what a small water association can do.”
Sky Meadow members would have to sign off on the transfer.
“Technically it hasn’t been laid on the table for the members yet, and any transfer would have to be done with a majority vote of the members,” Walker said.
The city and the water district have been in talks to take over at least a small portion of Sky Meadow’s territory for eight years, public works director Brad Feilberg said.
The water district serves rural customers in the greater Lord Hill area between Snohomish and Monroe.