PACKET: BOCC Special Meeting - Drainage District at Fri, Aug 11, 02:00 PM

County Sources

AVCapture Page

Documents

AI Information

Hearing Notice: Dissolving Drainage District No. 1, aka Chimacum Drainage District

Topic Summary

The Board of County Commissioners is considering the status of Drainage District No. 1, known as the Chimacum Drainage District, which has been inactive since 1974. The Jefferson County Auditor noted the district meets criteria for "inactive" status under RCW 36.96.010. The Board scheduled a public hearing for September 1, 2023, to discuss whether to dissolve, reactivate, or repurpose the district, with the immediate recommendation being to approve the hearing notice itself.

Key Points

  • The Chimacum Drainage District was formed in 1919 with the purpose of managing drainage and flood control systems.
  • The district has been inactive since 1974, when its governing board resigned.
  • Criteria for being declared "inactive" under RCW 36.96.010 include:
    • Failing to carry out its formed purpose for five consecutive years.
    • Having no election or appointment of a governing body member for seven consecutive years.
    • Being determined unauditable by the state auditor.
  • The district has not collected district funds since the mid-1960s.
  • Commissioner Eisenhour and Administrator McCauley are engaging with key stakeholders to determine a course of action.
  • Dissolving the district would raise issues, such as the disposition of easements between the district and landowners.
  • Reactivating or changing the district's purpose would require substantial interest from residents, a public vote to elect officers, and the imposition of a property tax assessment.
  • Administrator McCauley recommended that the Board approve the attached hearing notice.

Financials

  • The request has no fiscal impact other than the minor cost of publishing the hearing notice three times.
  • If the district were reactivated or repurposed, it would require imposing a property tax assessment on residents.
  • The district has not collected district funds since the mid-1960s.

Alternatives

The Board of County Commissioners has several options for the district's future: 1. Declare the district inactive and do not dissolve it (keep it in place, as is). 2. Declare it inactive and dissolve it. 3. Reactivate the district in its current form. 4. Change the purpose of the district, potentially adding irrigation and/or watershed improvement to its mission.

Community Input

  • Commissioner Eisenhour (HE) noted that the hearing schedule gives more time to "conversate with the residents."
  • Chair Brotherton opened the motion for public comment; "None received."
  • Written testimony is invited via email or mail from August 16, 2023, until the end of the Public Hearing on September 1, 2023.

Timeline

  • 1919: Drainage District No. 1 was formed.
  • Mid-1960s: Last time district funds were collected.
  • 1974: Governing board resigned; district became inactive.
  • 2023-05-15: Auditor memorandum referenced RCW 36.96 and recommended considering the district inactive and dissolved.
  • 2023-08-11: Board held a special meeting to discuss the hearing notice. The notice was signed by the Board Chair.
  • 2023-08-16, 23, 30: Hearing Notice is scheduled for publication three consecutive times in the legal paper of record.
  • 2023-09-01 (Friday): Public Hearing scheduled for 2:00 p.m. to consider dissolving the district (Correction made from initial mention of Monday, September 1).

Next Steps

The Board approved the motion to approve the hearing notice for Friday, September 1, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. The Board's current recommendation is to declare the district inactive and keep it in its current form while continuing to gather information from residents prior to a final decision. The Board is expected to schedule another public hearing for a final decision regarding the future of the district.

Sources

  • Mark McCauley - County Administrator
  • Kate Dean - Commissioner, District 1
  • Heidi Eisenhour - Commissioner, District 2
  • Greg Brotherton - Commissioner, District 3 / Chair
  • Jefferson County Auditor
  • RCW 36.96.010 - Dissolution of Inactive Special Purpose Districts
  • RCW 85.06.010 and 85.38.180 - Referenced statutes for special purpose district organization

Generated On: 2025-11-06 17:02:21.713888-08:00 By: google/gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025 running on https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/