Small Town News

Couple interested in annexing to city

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A couple living just outside Grand Coulee's city limits said last week that they would like to annex to the city, and intend to try to get the residents of East Heights to sign on to the petition.

Pat and Allison Punteney told the city council that they would like to annex two parcels of land to the city. The two parcels and part of a third make up 2.16 acres.

They also let the council know that they would like to amend the petition to include other residents in the East Heights area.

The Punteneys would have to get the owners of 60 percent of the valuation of parcels involved to get a full annexation of East Heights.

The Punteney property abuts to the city's boundary, and would not require any special provisions.

Many of the East Heights residents have been in a dispute with the city over water service. Currently, the city provides water service to residents of East Heights for a premium rate, but it does not maintain the water lines.

Several residents have complained of water pressure and water that has particles floating in it. They had asked the city to cbme in and fix the water lines.

The city declined and told the residents that if it repaired the lines or installed new lines, then the residents there would have to pay for it. Early engineer estimates said it would take $400,000 to fix the lines, and with 20 properties involved it could cost single properties $20,000 each.

At that point negotiations to fix the water lines stalled.

The city said it would try to get a grant to cut down on the cost of re-doing the lines. But at the city's last council meeting, Mayor Tammara Byers said that grant application failed.

Now the Punteneys have the task to convince East Heights residents to sign on to the annexation petition.



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© 2010 The Star Grand Coulee, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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