EWUA members petition to explore public ownership

||| FROM JAMES MOST |||

More than 50 EWUA memberships have signed a petition supporting a formal, non binding evaluation of whether Eastsound’s water utility should be transferred to public ownership through the Eastsound Sewer and Water District (ESWD).

Bringing water and sewer together could offer important community benefits:

• Shared operators, equipment, facilities, administration, emergency response, and long-term planning.
• Access to public grants, loans, and infrastructure-financing opportunities.
• Governance by elected commissioners, with public meetings, public records, independent state audits, and public-agency requirements.
• Coordinated planning for water supply, wastewater treatment, fire protection, infrastructure, and future community needs.

ESWD has confirmed that it is legally authorized to own and operate a water system. It has also confirmed that it would participate in nonbinding discussions concerning the operation or potential acquisition of EWUA’s water system if approached by a duly authorized and elected EWUA Board.

Any potential transfer would depend on appropriate due diligence—and that is exactly what this petition is intended to begin.

Before EWUA members can make an informed decision, we need reliable information about rates, assets, debts, reserves, water rights, employees, operations, governance, and the approvals required for any potential transfer.

The petition asks the EWUA Board to call a Special Meeting so the membership can vote on instructing the Board to begin this feasibility and due-diligence process with ESWD.

Signing the petition does not approve a transfer, merger, dissolution, rate change, or assumption of debt. Any final proposal would have to be developed, disclosed to members, and considered after the facts and terms are known.

The goal is simple: determine whether public ownership would be a better path forward—and give EWUA members the information needed to decide.

Sign the petition

https://www.signwell.com/new_doc/YJqLfXH420Ru1Di2/

Please have your EWUA account number and service/property address available. Submit one petition for each EWUA Membership Agreement in good standing that you are authorized to represent.

We need petition signatures representing at least 10% of eligible votes to require a Special Meeting. Please share this article and petition with other EWUA members.