Larey McLaren for Alderwood Water District
Commissioner, Pos. 3 (non-partisan)

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The Enterprise Newspaper – Questions and Answers – General Election 2005

 

Answers

 

1.      What expansion and/or improvements do you think should top the water district’s priority list?

 

The Clearview Projects are essentially complete increasing District water delivery capacity and seismic upgrades to District facilities are largely current so expansion of the Picnic Point Wastewater Treatment Plant moves up on the list. Efforts to improve resource security and disaster preparedness must also be elevated. Negotiating new, sustainable contracts with “wholesale cities” is also an important task.

 

2.      Do you think it would be beneficial for the water district to adopt a higher profile and place greater emphasis on public education? Please explain.

 

Two separate issues. I think most ratepayers would prefer that the District be pretty much invisible – that services be rendered with the least disruption and the lowest possible expense.

 

We have an obligation to make ratepayers aware of security measures, disaster preparedness efforts, conservation programs and other ways ratepayers can help preserve our resources. Enhancing the District website and publishing the District newsletter more often may be good ways to provide greater ratepayer access to important information. I believe the District does a good job making information available to ratepayers through its newsletter, public hearings, mailers and billing statement notes.

 

3.      How can the water district continue to maintain water quality and supply while holding down rates?

 

Rates are a function of maintenance and operations expense. The recent signing of a long-term water supply contract with the City of Everett has stabilized major commodity expenditures but greater outlays for maintenance equipment, conveyance materials and labor contribute to higher costs and are other factors to be mitigated. Preventative maintenance must be performed on schedule and aging equipment must be replaced/upgraded regularly. Strict adherence to “Growth pays for growth” is critical policy for capital projects.

 

On the sewer side, we must persevere to minimize any adverse impact on Alderwood ratepayers from political competition between King County and Snohomish County.

 

4.      Do you believe enough is being done to protect the water district’s water supply from natural or manmade disaster? Please explain.

 

Emphasis on preparedness is high but no amount of protection can insulate us from every calamity. Spada Reservoir and Lake Chaplain contain over 50 billion gallons. Securing these facilities would be an enormous undertaking and is surely cost prohibitive. We must approach this challenge cooperatively with our partners in the Everett system. Our challenge is to ensure that proper monitoring and detection occurs, that regular maintenance is performed and that disaster mitigation plans are in place. Seismic upgrades have taken place throughout the District and aging equipment is replaced/upgraded on schedule. Vulnerability assessment will provide valuable insight into potential weaknesses.

 

Biographical information:

 

Name:                               Laren W. “Larey” McLaren

Age:                                   53

Marital/family status:         Married (Catherine)

Residence:                        Mays Pond area between Bothell & Mill Creek

Education:             AA General Studies, Bellevue Community College

                              ATA Construction Management, Edmonds CC

Occupation:                      Consultant/Project Engineer

Political experience:          Commissioner, Alderwood Water District 1999-2001

                              Member, Alderwood Ratepayer Advisory Group

                              Member, Thrasher’s Corner Preservation Association

                              Helped bring traffic safety improvements to neighborhood

Personal experience:        25 years in Manufacturing Materials Management

                              APICS certified for 20 years

                              Former Little League coach