What appears to be lingering confusion surrounding recent events at Water District 49, which serves much of Burien including the downtown area, is expected to be cleared up at the next board of commissioners' meeting.
But only two Water District 49 commissioners will meet Wednesday, July 12, at 5 p.m. in the district office at 4__ S.W. 153rd St.
Jim Henry, the third commissioner, resigned effective July 1 in the wake of their last meeting on June 14. Henry stormed out of that meeting after commissioners Ray Brickell and Dave Lutz voted not to renew the contract of Manager Dale Cap.
Henry voted to extend Cap's contract, which will expire Nov. 22.
Last week, Cap told the Times/News that rumors he had also resigned were not true.
"I did not resign," he said. "I did not do that ... in the first place, I have a contract."
Cap did confirm that Henry had submitted a letter stating he was retiring from the board.
"I'm still [here] and my contract goes until Nov. 22," he said. "The board opted not to renew my contract beyond that point."
Cap added, "The district is in really good shape at the present time." Among the primary reasons, he said, is that "we've put a lot of pipe in the ground."
Brickell told the Times/News last month, "It was not an easy decision" to terminate Cap.
"No one particular occurrence" prompted that action ... things needed to change," he said at the time.
Two events, however, did embroil Cap in controversy.
In 2003, Water District 49 stopped billing its customers for street light service provided by Seattle City Light. Last year, City Light threatened to turn off the streetlights unless the past-due bill was paid.
The water district resumed billing its customers for street light service, and the city of Burien covered part of the delinquent payment.
Then late last year, Water District 49 was brought into an ethics controversy that involved two Burien City Council members.
Cap later claimed sole responsibility for authorizing water service through Mayor Joan McGilton's property to a neighbor, although the neighbor lives in the Highline Water District.
