Have you seen workers with reflective vests surveying your neighborhood? This work is part of the planning stage of a project to replace aging water main pipes in your area. 

This project will replace around 7,900 feet of water main pipe. The pipes planned for replacement were installed in the 1950s and early 1960s. These water mains have reached the end of their expected life and replacement will improve water system reliability and resilience.

Residents who live in the following areas should expect to see surveyors in their neighborhoods over the next several weeks:

• • 9675 SE 36th Street
• • SE Gallegher Hill Road
• • Greenbrier Lane
• • Mercerwood Drive
• • 93rd Avenue SE
• • 94th Avenue SE
• • SE 43rd Street
• • Crestwood Place

As always, please slow down and give crews room to safely work when driving in work areas. More information about this project will be posted to the Capital Projects page of the City Website later this week.

PS: The City’s water distribution system includes more than 113 miles of water mains of varying age, size, material, and condition. Now you know!

While private companies provide curbside garbage services across our region, these haulers utilize King County transfer stations for waste transportation and disposal. The King County Council recently approved a rate restructure for disposal fees which affect the 37 cities and unincorporated areas in King County that utilize these transfer stations, including Mercer Island. The County's rate restructure lowers the per-ton tipping fee and adds a new Fixed Annual Charge per city based upon prior waste amounts.

King County's 2024 Fixed Asset Charge for Mercer Island is $223,407, which equates to $1.43 per month per cubic yard of garbage. The new rate structure goes into effect January 1, 2024 and will become a new line item on customer bills.

The City has an interlocal agreement with King County which covers solid waste management that allows for this change. To correctly implement the restructured fees, the City needs to amend its contract with Recology to collect the new King County Fixed Annual Charge from customers. The City Council will review this amendment at the November 7 City Council meeting.

You can learn more about the solid waste rate structure on the King County website.

A memorial service for Retired Chief of Police Jan Deveny will be held on Friday, November 3 at 11:00am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Issaquah. Deveny passed away early last month.

Deveny was hired in June of 1974 and served as Mercer Island's Chief of Police until his retirement in 2003. He was given Mercer Island's Community Member of the Year Award for his dedication to the community. He is remembered warmly by many on the Island, with Mercer Island Police Chief Ed Holmes remarking "Jan was a friend and mentor for many years, serving as a role model for our community."