Hidden and Conflicting Cost "ESTIMATES" for the Calrsborg Sewer.

Costs Still Unknown

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

11:26 AM

Hidden and Conflicting Cost "ESTIMATES" for the Calrsborg Sewer.

Since the time that Carlsborg had been designated as an "Urban Growth Area" (UGA) there has been an ongoing attempt by Clallam County to construct a sewer system for the entire UGA.  Repeatedly the CITIZENS of Carlsborg have asked the county what the system will "ACTUALLY COST" to construct and how much will it "COST" each of us?  Repeatedly the county has said "we don't know what the costs will be, when we know you will know". 

About 20 Carlsborg residents voice opposition to proposed sewer

By Rob Ollikainen

Peninsula Daily News

Pasted from <http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20101215/news/312159986/about-20-carlsborg-residents-voice-opposition-to-proposed-sewer>

Thanks but no thanks, they said in a public hearing to extend temporary zoning for Carlsborg, because the cost will be too high.

The ESTIMATED $15 million sewer and wastewater treatment plant is a joint project of Clallam County and the Clallam County Public Utility District.  (*emphasis mine in bold )

"We don't know the cost; we know that you don't know the cost,

Costs unknown

Commissioner Steve Tharinger said the reason the county hasn't hosted more forums is because the costs are still unclear. *

"Everyone needs to know that cost -- we don't know it yet," Tharinger said. *

Carlsborg residents question need for sewer system, infrastructure in such a rural community

Posted 8/9/2012

by Sue Forde

for Citizen Review Online

Pasted from <http://citizenreviewonline.org/carlsborg-residents-question-need-for-sewer-system-infrastructure-in-such-a-rural-community/>

a member of the audience, said he is part of the “opposition group”.  The “biggest sticking point among the residents is money,” he said.  Sequim has a high population density.  Carlsborg does not.  It’s not feasible for a sewer system when Steve Tharinger was involved:  where are the numbers, how much.  “We got the runaround,” he stated.  You need to come up with real numbers – if you don’t, it’s inappropriate to shove this down the throats of the people in Carlsborg, *

Dave said the response is unsatisfactory.  “We’ve been going to these meetings for quite awhile now,” and still there is no idea  of the cost.  “I’m assuming if you’ll be piping to Sequim, it will have an enormous cost.  We need some numbers,” he urged.

McEntire responded that “as soon as we know the numbers, you’ll know.” *

The best the county has been able to come up with thus far are "ASSUMPTIONS, ESTIMATES AND PROJECTIONS.

Unfortunately these are NOT the numbers we have been asking for, we want the real "COSTS".  We already know this sewer system is "FINANCIALLY INFEASIBLE", we just don't have the population or the "need" for it.

This brings us to the Carlsborg Sewer Financial Plan, February 2014, (the PLAN).

http://www.clallam.net/PublicWorks/documents/FCS2-11-2014.pdf

The first 12 pages of this document are solely based on "ASSUMPTIONS, PROJECTIONS AND ESTIMATES"  not the real NUMBERS.*  The problem with these "ASSUMPTIONS" begin with errors in the Carlsborg UGA population, number of Residential Units, number of businesses and growth, which lead to errors in the "ESTIMATES", "PROJECTIONS" and "APPROXIMATIONS" of costs associated with construction, number of connections, connection costs and monthly user fees. 

The key concern is the erroneous "ASSUMPTIONS" in the number of "potential connections" available which has lead to erroneous "ESTIMATES" of the $68.00 monthly user fee or $816.00 annually, this fee is based on a "BEST CASE ESTIMATE" IF they can get the required number of hookups in the first two years.  IF they don't meet this goal then the monthly cost WILL  be higher, as well as the cost of individual hookups.