Water Main Break, Hallo-Weekend, and More...

October 11, 2023

City Repairs Major Water Main Break

In the late evening of Monday, October 9, the City was notified of a potential water main break near the 4600 block of West Mercer Way. Crews identified a major leak and quickly worked to isolate the affected portion of the water main and began slowing the immediate leak. The break site has been repaired and water service has since been restored.

The damaged water main was a 14” diameter cast iron pipe originally installed in 1958. Excavation of the break site revealed a 12-foot-long crack, which required a complete pipe replacement in that section of the main. This replacement was complex and involved overexcavation of the area to install the new segment of pipe. An 18-foot pipe was sourced from the City of Anacortes, as pipe of this size and type are challenging to locate.

City crews successfully replaced the damaged water main Tuesday, October 10, and water service was restored to impacted properties. A Precautionary Boil Water Notice was issued for homes immediately adjacent to the water main break only - impacted homes received hanging door tags with information. The Boil Water Notice will be lifted as soon as the City confirms water quality with satisfactory results from the lab, which are expected Friday afternoon, October 13, if not earlier.

The City thanks our Public Works teams who were able to replace this major water main within 24 hours by working around-the-clock. We are also greatly appreciative to the City of Anacortes for going out of their way to supply the specialized pipe needed for the repair.

If you have any questions about your water service or encounter issues, contact the City's Customer Service Team: 206-275-7600

Memorial Planned for Retired Police Chief Jan Deveny

The City is saddened to share that on Saturday, October 7, Retired Chief of Police Jan Deveny passed away. A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 3 at 11:00am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Issaquah.

Deveny was hired in June of 1974 and served as Mercer Island's Chief of Police until his retirement in 2003. During his time on the island, Deveny was appointed to several state boards and councils by four governors. He was the former president of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs and past general chairman of a division of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Deveny was a U.S. Marine and began his law enforcement career with the Sacramento Police Department after graduating from Sacramento State University. Deveny moved up the ranks quickly and became the youngest Police Captain in Sacramento history before moving to Mercer Island. Deveny loved the outdoors and was an avid mountaineer, leading summiting guides on Mount Rainier for over 20 years.

In 2002, he was given Mercer Island's Community Member of the Year Award for his dedication to the community and his profession. 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."

Seasonal Events Coming Up

Fall is here, and so are a handful of activities and events on Mercer Island. Here's what you need to know:

Celebrate spooky season right at home with Mercer Island's own Hallo-Weekend. Enjoy Trick-or-Treating in Town Center on Friday, October 27 from 4:00pm - 6:00pm, and the annual Pumpkin Walk on Sunday, October 29 from 5:00pm - 8:00pm. It's a great opportunity to gather with family, friends, and neighbors for fun (and perhaps a fright).

Mercer Island High School's Homecoming Parade returns this Friday, October 13 beginning at 5:00pm. The parade will leave the upper lot of Northwood Elementary and travel down 86th Ave SE, SE 42nd St, 92nd Ave SE, turn onto SE 41 St, and enter the High School. Once the parade is fully on school property, it will conclude. Islanders should prepare for traffic control during the parade.

Don't forget: the City of Mercer Island and Mountains to Sound Greenway are hosting the annual Arbor Day Planting Event on Saturday, October 21. You can join your neighbors to help plant trees and shrubs in Luther Burbank Park along the newly-constructed south shoreline trail. No experience is necessary; gloves and tools are provided. Learn more and register your spot online.

King County Restructures Solid Waste Rates

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 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 October 17 City Council meeting.

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

Full Westbound I-90 Closure Ahead

WSDOT is planning an overnight closure of westbound I-90 between Mercer Island and Seattle scheduled for October 20. Westbound I-90 will close from Island Crest Way to the Seattle side beginning at 10:00pm Friday, October 20 and will reopen at 6:00am on Saturday, October 21. Additional information will be shared when it's available. Drivers should plan accordingly and take alternate routes. As always, you can see the latest road conditions on the WSDOT Real-Time Travel Map.

City Snapshot

Check out the latest from our official social media profiles:

Visit the City's Website

Follow our official social media channels:

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

NEXTDOOR

City of Mercer Island

www.mercerisland.gov

206-275-7600