Greg Ayers Responds to Orcas Issues Questions for Eastsound Sewer and Water District Commissioner Position #3

Gregory Ayers

Orcas Issues asked candidates for elective races to respond to questions. Greg Ayers’ and Harvey Aldort’s answers are featured today.

Candidates for the Orcas School Board  #2 (Bob Connell and Tony Ghazel) will respond to questions tomorrow.

For further information on each candidate, contained in the Official Voters Guide, go to the official San Juan County website:

https://wei.secstate.wa.gov/sanjuan/Pages/OnlineVotersGuide_20091103.aspx

Readers will be able to refer back to the candidates’ answers on previous days by typing their name in the “Search” window at the top of the website.

Questions for Eastsound Sewer and Water District position:

1)      What in your experience and vision brings you to put yourself forth as a candidate for the five-member Eastsound Sewer and Water District (ESWD) Board?

I have a strong interest in serving the community, working with organizations in which I can use my knowledge and skills acquired managing biotechnology start-up companies over the past 18 years.   I search for opportunities where I can assist in evaluating multiple needs and requirements and where coming to effective and acceptable solutions is required.  I feel I can bring my medical, technical and business background to the ESWD which can benefit from my business-oriented, logical problem-solving process to assist in managing issues of public health and technology.

2)      What do you consider the most important responsibilities of the Sewer and Water District? Please state your unique abilities to fulfill those responsibilities as a board member, including the number of hours you envision working as a ESWD Commissioner, both in and outside of public meetings.

I feel the most important responsibility of ESWD is to make sound, legal and cost-effective decisions related to the environmental impact of, and public needs for, wastewater management.  As an engineer, physician and businessman, I understand the public health consequences of inadequate wastewater management and the need for affordable service.  I can assess issues and suggest opportunities for improvement and as a resident of ESWD, I have a vested interest in being an effective commissioner.  I commit to put in whatever effort is needed, which I anticipate will be approximately 4-5 hours weekly, including participating in the bi-weekly public meetings.

3)      The ESWD has recently adopted a payment discount program for hooking up to sewer district lines. What, in your understanding, was instructive about that process and how will you be guided in similar negotiations with the community in the sewer district area?

Encouraging sewer usage through deferred hook-up fees for low-income homeowners was a creative solution to the complex issue of public health versus financial constraints.  From what I have determined, the process was similar to what I employ to solve issues in my businesses, which is: remain unbiased; collect information; define the various factors and needs of the public and individuals; evaluate potential solutions through discussion with affected parties; and make a decision and execute the plan.  Many of the problems faced by the ESWD will require similar creative solutions and I will use this type process to guide my decisions.

4)      The Sewer District has been engaged in a dispute with the County regarding the extension of sewer lines beyond the Eastsound Urban Growth Area (UGA) but within the sewer district boundaries. What do you see as the most productive perspective to address and deal with this conflict?

I view the actual dispute as being one between the ecology that defines the sewer district and the purpose of the UGA to limit growth; hence I feel solutions must be logical rather than emotional.   Most important is to protect public health through monitoring of the aquifer and taking prompt, lawful action when necessary.  It is critical that logical, legal and viable solutions are developed to address issues resulting from UGA limitations.  Lastly, as a utility in a UGA, it is required that the ESWD is prepared to provide expansion of sewer service if and when any UGA expansion occurs.

5)      The Sewer District’s primary mandate is to ensure the safety of the water in its area. Please address the optimal way for dealing with wastewater, and steps you think the District should take to achieve sustainable, healthy water supply.

Within the Eastsound basin, where there is substantial population density resting on top of a contained community water supply, the clear answer is for centralized wastewater management, not treatment using multiple individual septic fields.  First, I feel the district must provide a cost-effective, efficient and reliable system that will promote hook-up and usage of the sewer system.  Second, ESWD needs to undertake continuous improvements to the system and plan for future needs.  Finally, we must begin to consider actions to reduce amounts of heavy metals and household chemicals that can pass through treatment and are discharged into the Sound.

6)      What is the most immediate situation the ESWD should address and what is your vision for addressing it?

After speaking with people in the community and the present commissioners, I understand the issues facing ESWD.  The majority of these issues relate to the most immediate situation needing to be addressed: the need to hook up as many residents as possible to the sewer system. Aside from public health, this is also a requirement of ESWD under the UGA.  In order to maximize usage of the system, it must be affordable to the residents of ESWD.  We need to evaluate opportunities and implement plans, such as dehydration of wastewater treatment solids, which increase efficiency, decrease costs, while maintaining reliability.