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Tigard Water District History carr, /q97 A Brief History of Tigard Water District The Tigard Water District was established on January 5, 1938. Prior to 1938 water service to the area was provided by the privately owned Tigard Water Company. In the beginning, water service was provided by four deep wells to patrons of the special service district. Over the years the service area grew. In 1968, the Water District began providing service to a small portion of the Metzger Water District on SW 72nd Avenue from Highway 217 to SW Carmen (Upper Boones Ferry), in order to provide better fire service to area businesses and domestic service. In 1985, the service area was expanded to include the City of Durham. Prior to 1994, the Tigard Water District provided service to the cities of King City, Durham, approximately two thirds of Tigard and the unincorporated areas of Bull Mountain and the Walnut Island. In 1994, the cities of Tigard, King City and Durham withdrew their territories from the Tigard Water District, leaving the Water District to only represent the residents of the unincorporated areas of Bull Mountain and the Walnut Island. Fiscal restraint has been the policy of the Tigard Water District Board of Commissioners since the formation of the District in 1938. Until 1976 it was necessary to issue general obligation bonds to fund many of the required capital improvements in the water system. After 1976, the District has been "living" within income without borrowed funds. Consequently, each year after 1976, the District has improved its financial position as indebtedness is reduced and moneys were set aside in reserve funds for future capital improvements. By December 1995 the District became debt free. A few of the major capital improvements that were funded by reserve funds and income are: • Purchase of the Water Building property on SW Burnham and Hall Blvd. • Construction of the Water Building. • Construction of a 1.0 million gallon water reservoir at the summit of Bull Mountain. • Construction of a water transfer pumping facility. • Construction of a 24-inch water main from Fanno Creek on SW Bonita Road to Pacific Highway and Old Gaarde Street. • Construction of a 24-inch water main on SW Greenburg Road from SW Tiedeman to Highway 217. • Purchase of a computerized telemetry system (SCADA)to monitor reservoirs and pumping facilities. • Purchase of two future reservoir sites. The Tigard Water District Board of Commissioners is made up of five elected commissioners who reside within the current boundary of the District. Since the withdrawal of the territory of the cities in 1994, and the creation of the Tigard Water Service Area, the Commissioners are performing as a policy board and watch dog group for residents of the unincorporated area. The City of Tigard provides the staffing for operation, maintenance and planning of the Water District as well as the entire Tigard Water Service Area. All rates and maintenance practices are uniform throughout the Tigard Water Service Area. The Water District is a voting member of the Intergovernmental Water Board (IWB) which makes recommendations to the Tigard City Council on long term water supply planning, policies and procedures, operations and water rates for the Tigard Water Service Area. The Tigard Water District Board of Commissioners meet every other month (even numbered months) on the fourth Monday at 7:00 PM at 8777 SW Burnham Street, Tigard, in the Water Building. The meeting are open to the public and visitors are welcome. The Commissioners hope that this information has been informative. For more information regarding the operations of the Tigard Water Service Area, please contact Mike Miller, Operations Manager City of Tigard, 639-4171 x395.