Sandpoint discourages water, sewer service deals

SANDPOINT — City officials want to ensure their position is clear when it comes to negotiating water and sewer service deals.

The council recently passed a resolution discouraging the council from considering water and sewer service extension requests from unincorporated entities. While extending the service boundaries might add more short-term revenue into the cities coffers, council members worry that adding services to unincorporated entities outside of city limits would also encourage development outside of Sandpoint, costing the town much more in the long run.     

“I think it makes sense to send a clear message as to what the city’s position is rather then having to entertain request after request,” Councilman Aaron Qualls said. “The spirit of it is, I think, appropriate.”

The decision comes of the heels of a request from the Sagle Valley Water and Sewer District to access the city’s water and sewer system. Council members ultimately decided to deny the request, fearing it would make Sagle a more attractive location for individuals and businesses seeking a region with fewer fees and taxes but sufficient public services. Councilwoman Jamie Brunner introduced the resolution at the following meeting to save city officials time by making policy clear from the get-go.

The resolution is designed largely to save time. According to Brunner, the request for service from Sagle first arrived in April of last year. That amounted to almost a year’s worth of meetings, staff time and City Council agenda items before the matter was finally resolved.

“I just think this is a matter of efficiency,” Brunner said.  

Not everyone agreed with the resolution. Councilman Justin Schuck was concerned that the resolution would be too much of a blanket statement in defining public policy. However, Brunner countered that the city’s long-term plans already advised against southward expansion across the Long Bridge.

“This is kind of a blanket statement, but it’s not a different blanket statement than the one we’re already making in our comprehensive plan,” Brunner said.