City of Shoreline purchases land housing RWD Lift Station No. 13 to prevent Woodway’s acquisition by condemning the property

Updated 12-10-2013 10:05pm

From the Office of the City Manager

In an effort to protect the current assets of the Ronald Wastewater District (District), and future City of Shoreline assets, from a potential condemnation action taken by the Town of Woodway, the City of Shoreline has purchased the piece of property on which the District’s Lift Station 13 is located. Acquiring the property preserves the service provided by Lift Station No. 13 to the homes in Shoreline. It also preserves the ability for the City to assume the lift station and related equipment and pipes when the City and the District unify in 2017.

In 2002, the City and the District entered into a joint agreement to unify sewer services under City control in October 2017. The agreement provides that the District employees will become City employees and that the City will assume all of the equipment, pipes, lift stations, and debt of the district.

Lift Station #13
From Ronald Wastewater District Map

Recently the Town of Woodway offered to purchase Lift Station No. 13 and other District assets located in unincorporated Snohomish County. Lift Station No 13 serves 61 homes in Shoreline. The District’s Board of Commissioners reviewed Woodway’s offer and on November 25 voted unanimously to reject it.

On December 3, the City learned Woodway’s Town Council was scheduled to adopt an eminent domain (condemnation) ordinance on the property underlying Lift Station No. 13, along with related electrical controls. BSRE Point Wells, LP (BSRE) owned the property.

In order to protect the provisions of the 2002 agreement between the City and the District, BSRE agreed to quitclaim the land to the City for $10,000. The quitclaim deed was provided to the City on Monday, December 9. The City filed and recorded the deed with the Snohomish County Assessor and is now the owner of the underlying property.