Harvey Aldort Responds to Orcas Issues Questions for Eastsound Sewer and Water District Commissioner #3

Harvey Aldort

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

Candidates for the Orcas Island School District Position  #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.

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?

At age 23 I opened my first business and have been in the real world of the private sector ever since, for 50 years now I have been meeting payrolls. Millions of dollars have been dispersed with my signature on checks for my own businesses. I have successfully retailed, manufactured, published, marketed, consulted and am currently an electrical contractor.

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.

The Sewer & Water District’s most pressing issues are handling the inevitable upgrade to the plant most cost effectively; completing the annexation of Rosario water; connecting as many failing septics as possible and restructuring the rates to be more equitable. My real world business experience uniquely qualifies me to meet all of the sewer district challenges. I envision that with the two meetings every month and work outside the meetings that I would be spending 20 to 25 hours a month on sewer business.

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?

I think the Sewer District acted appropriately giving people who do not have the money 15 years to pay at 4% compounded yearly. However, I think the district should have given out a payment chart showing what would be owed at the four percent interest compounded yearly.($18,009.43 starting at $10,000) if no payments were made. If $100.00 a month were paid, the loan would be paid off in 10 years and save the loan holders many thousands of dollars. The average rate payer does not understand how expensive deferring payment will be.

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?

The Growth Management Act prohibits expansion outside the UGA. The sewer district boundaries were arbitrary when established. The concern is that if the lines are extended into low density and rural areas, an attempt to up zone at a future date might take place. No one on Orcas wants to encourage growth. We do not have enough money to take on the State. You have to know when to pick your fights and in my opinion this is a loser. The State will be fighting us with our tax dollars. We will be paying for both sides of what will probably be a losing war. The cost of  bringing the sewer line to the Country Corner LAMIRD and the failing septic systems on Montgomery Lane is not cost effective even if it were  legal and will probably never happen.

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.

The Sewer District can only do what is legal. It would be nice to have all septic systems on the island connected to a treatment plant but it is unlikely to ever happen. Making certain our transit lines do not fair and connecting everything we can that is legal is a no brainier. This is all we can do to ensure potable water safety.

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

I think that the inevitable treatment plant upgrade should be looked at NOW. I say that because in this Great Recession we should be able to upgrade for half of what it will cost in 8 or ten years when the upgrade will be needed. Saving half and the interest on the half will hold down the rates. Also the current rates are inequitable because a studio apartment pays the same price as a 6 bedroom house. One size fits all. This puts a greater burden on the working class since they are predominantly the renters.

As a landlord who receives seven sewer bills every month and lives in the newly annexed Rosario water district, I am understandably concerned and uniquely qualified to handle these issues and see to it that the District functions smoothly, giving the rate payers the most bang for their buck.