Bear Mountain Water District proposes new ULIDs

CHELAN – Two years ago around March, the Bear Mountain Water District proposed a Utility Local Improvement District (ULID) along the South Shore which would benefit certain parcels in the area.

The ULID would help bring fire flow to properties around the Bear Mountain Golf Course, Hawks Meadow and lakefront parcels along SR 97A from Tsillan Cellars to Pat & Mikes. Such ULID was split into two after it was shut down by Hawks Meadow, leaving the lakefront property owners on the hook to pay for around $2.1 million of the total $2.6 million project.

On March 29, 2017, the District held a public hearing in which 60 plus property owners were in attendance. Many of them showed frustration and responded with protests against the ULID. They were even thinking of petitioning the district to get them removed from the district.

The project shut down on April 19 of the same year after former Bear Mountain board member and Tsillan Cellars owner Bob Jankelson withdrew his support for the ULID, giving the 40 percent needed to reject the ULID.

This year, in late January, the District’s board received a petition from the majority of the residents who want the District to create a ULID for the construction of water improvements.

The board adopted a resolution declaring its intention to create a ULID No. 2 and to order the construction of certain improvements to the water system.  

The improvements consist of replacing the existing well pump, the addition of a 53,000 gallon concrete reservoir and another reservoir of 265,000 gallons, interconnecting piping between new and existing reservoirs and fire hydrants plus upgrading the fire risers. Electrical service upgrades at reservoirs and the necessary engineering, contingency and plan upgrades are also part the improvements.

An estimated cost for the improvements is $800,000, which will be paid in full by property owners living within the proposed ULID No. 2.

A meeting will be held by the board on Feb. 27 at 1:00 p.m. at the Chelan Fire District No. 7 Fire Hall, 232 E. Wapato Ave., Chelan. The meeting will serve as a way to share more information on the ULID formation and improvements. It will also serve as a way to determine the payment method of the project.

Those desiring to object the improvements and the formation of the proposed ULID may appear at the hearing and state their views.

Similarly, the District is proposing to form a ULID No. 3 and to order the construction of certain improvements to the water system within the said ULID. The proposed improvements deal with the installation of an intertie to the District’s water system sourced from Lake Chelan, related infrastructure along with the necessary engineering, contingency and plan upgrades.

The cost of the proposed improvements is of $200,000 and those properties benefiting by such improvements are accountable for the full cost.

During the Feb. 27 meeting at the Chelan Fire District, the board will also go over ULID No. 3 and will hear the public’s views on the proposal.