Water boundary workshop draws plenty of discussion

SANDPOINT - Nearly a month after Sandpoint's contested decision to expand its water boundary, officials from Kootenai, Ponderay and Sandpoint met last week for a workshop and discussion about the future of Bonner county water.

The workshop, led by Sandpoint Mayor Gretchen Hellar, was the first meeting between the three communities on the subject.

Sandpoint City Planner Jeremy Grimm, Public Works Director Kody Van Dyk and Treasurer Shannon Syth all gave brief presentations on an array of water issues, including the logistical and financial aspects of boundary expansion.

One issue which drew comments from several of the officials was Sandpoint's 2007 water system admission policy.

The policy was enacted to create a unified standard for expanding Sandpoint's water boundary into surrounding municipalities, but Ponderay Mayor Carol Kunzeman expressed concern about the policy's power to shape the development of cities outside Sandpoint.

“In a way, Sandpoint is telling other cities how to grow by passing the water expansion policy,” said Kunzeman.

Sandpoint City Councilman Michael Boge agreed with Kunzeman and asked for input from each community on ways to make the policy more equitable.

The group also discussed the possibility of forming a water district to give each city representation in water-related decisions.

Sandpoint City Attorney Will Herrington said creating an intergovernmental advisory committee might be a more manageable solution than a water district, because, among other reasons, a water district would require Sandpoint to give up control of the water policy.

Like Herrington, Hellar was skeptical about Sandpoint relinquishing its power over water decisions.

“Sandpoint has an emotional attachment to calling it our water,” she said.

Although the group made no commitments regarding long-range water use, each community agreed that opening lines of communication was an important step toward reaching a solution.

Hellar said the issue is too urgent and too important for quarterly workshops and suggested the parties meet monthly.