Owners of 142 North San Juan parcels will soon decide whether to pay an approximately $130-per-parcel tax to support a proposed fire suppression system.
The Board of Supervisors on May 14 voted to conduct a mailed ballot election to form a County Service Area (CSA) that would create the funding mechanism for maintenance of the system. The project involves the construction of a 330,000-gallon water storage tank at the North San Juan United Methodist Church and about 4,200 feet of water mains and 10 fire hydrants in the commercial core of North San Juan. The goal is to provide fire water storage and distribution for commercial and residential use in the area. Operation and maintenance of the system is expected to cost about $18,172 per year.
“If there’s a large wildfire in the area, it will give us enough water to help protect the homes in the area,” said North San Juan Fire Chief Tom Browning.
Ballots are expected to be mailed out in the next two weeks. The ballot opening is expected to occur at a public hearing July 9. “This is the next step to find out where property owners stand,” said Supervisor Sue Hoek, who represents the area.
If a majority of parcel owners do not approve the formation of the CSA, the Board of Supervisors will decide whether to terminate or pause the project since there will be no funding source for ongoing maintenance.
The Local Agency Formation Commission conditionally approved the formation of the CSA Feb. 22. No letters of opposition were received prior to that hearing.
