Belfair hit with water bill increases after $250k legal bills
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BELFAIR, Wash. -- A huge rate increase is coming for water customers in the tiny community of Belfair, and the water commission says it's because nearly $250,000 was wasted on lawsuits and legal fees.
Tuesday night, the water commission voted to boost rates 38 percent, or around $20 a month.
"It's not good, it's not right," said Belfair resident Dean Savage.
But commissioners said they have no choice.
"It's a hard pill for me to swallow too," said Belfair Water Commision Chair Mike Pope. "But if you want this community to survive and prosper, we can't do it without good water."
The commission says the trouble goes back to the time when the district gained notoriety -- when the former manager Dave Tipton locked the fire hydrants claiming the fire department was using too much water.
Under Tipton's management, the district was fined a total of $240,000 for public records violations, trespassing and property damage lawsuits.
"So there's right around a quarter of a million dollars that was expended that didn't really need to be expended," Pope said. "It was a waste."
And there's the potential for more loss if Tipton's contract is upheld in court. Previous commissioners signed a contract giving him three years' pay if he's fired -- $216,000. He was fired.
"If the judge rules in favor of Tipton for the full amount then I don't know what the district will do," said new water district manager Tom Peadon.
The district says it may have to take out a loan from the county, rather that go after yet another rate hike on top of the big one just passed.
Tipton has since moved to Oregon and we were unable to reach him for comment. His contract case is set for a hearing Oct. 1 in Mason County Court.
Tuesday night, the water commission voted to boost rates 38 percent, or around $20 a month.
"It's not good, it's not right," said Belfair resident Dean Savage.
But commissioners said they have no choice.
"It's a hard pill for me to swallow too," said Belfair Water Commision Chair Mike Pope. "But if you want this community to survive and prosper, we can't do it without good water."
The commission says the trouble goes back to the time when the district gained notoriety -- when the former manager Dave Tipton locked the fire hydrants claiming the fire department was using too much water.
Under Tipton's management, the district was fined a total of $240,000 for public records violations, trespassing and property damage lawsuits.
"So there's right around a quarter of a million dollars that was expended that didn't really need to be expended," Pope said. "It was a waste."
And there's the potential for more loss if Tipton's contract is upheld in court. Previous commissioners signed a contract giving him three years' pay if he's fired -- $216,000. He was fired.
"If the judge rules in favor of Tipton for the full amount then I don't know what the district will do," said new water district manager Tom Peadon.
The district says it may have to take out a loan from the county, rather that go after yet another rate hike on top of the big one just passed.
Tipton has since moved to Oregon and we were unable to reach him for comment. His contract case is set for a hearing Oct. 1 in Mason County Court.
Once again, the public gets punished for something the district did. Yeah I'm sure they're gonna learn their lesson.
The 2 people who received the money for the violations of the freedom of information act could be nice enough to give the money back. Mike tried to clean up the water dept. but his actions resulted in just making it worse on everybody. His wife was one of the people that got the money. They don't need the money, they are both doing really well.
the citizens need to file a million dollar class action suit against  Tipton for gross negligence doing his job causing potential loss of life and property for locking the hydrants and illegal misuse of power and mental distress to the citizens.
The former city manager was an idiot. If an employer is going to hire an idiot and support bad behavior, then the employer deserves the punishment! Um - they should have insurance - BELFAIR VOTERS - GET OFF YOUR DUFFS AND VOTE THE COMMISSIONERS OUT. They are also responsible for this debacle.
 So once the law suit money is paid do the rates go down ?? Doubt. Typical democrats keep voting for the same group and expect something different ! Insanity.
@Maynard G Krebbs:    Most utility districts such as this are NOT "party positions" - you do not vote for a Repub or a Dem - they are simply different people applying for the same job. Party affiliation has nothing to do with it.
Why don't they sue Tipton for the money? It's not fair that the citizens have to pay for his eff ups. And who in the hell would put a stipulation in a contract that if someone gets fired, they get THREE years pay? FOR BEING FIRED?!
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How much you wanna bet he tried to get fired on purpose?
The water commission before the present one signed an agreement for a golden parachute clause for Tipton that guaranteed him 3 years severance pay even if he was fired. This was one of things Mike Pope was trying to get cleaned up. Its just another example of why public utility districts are bad for the civilian population and bad for the environment. We're also dealing with a huge corruption of the same process through the new sewer system they're putting in. Its already forced some families to have to sell their homes and some small businesses because they can't afford the huge costs for this program. Mason County is a mess. We have just as many corrupt cops as Seattle PD does and we have just as bad as leadership. @Tattooed_Angel
This saga is a good example of why citizens should not simply take it for granted that the low-level elected offices such as commissioners of utility districts are staffed by well-meaning people. It's also an example of why it is sometimes a good idea to allow incorporated cities to assume control of the special purpose districts if the citizens desire this.
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Obviously if the commissioners are just a bunch of good old boys looking out for the wallets of them and their buddies (like the people they "hire") and the voters are too apathetic to notice this, injustices are ripe to occur.
this has got to be a joke! why would those idiots sign that contract? whatever... good thing i don't live in belfair
 @DylanJ They signed this contract because they clearly had Sh** for brains. This has been a long and ongoing situation in Belfair. Hopefully the Tiptons'  firing would be justified in the courts eyes.Â