The Pierce County Council has approved an agreement to provide road and surface water services to the Pierce County portion of Pacific starting Jan. 1.
Pacific’s liability insurance is expected to be canceled Dec. 31, making it likely that its city employees will not report to work after that.
The County Council voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize County Executive Pat McCarthy to enter into a six-month interlocal agreement. It calls for the City of Pacific to reimburse the county for road and surface water costs.
Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor said in a letter Dec. 6 that his department will start providing police services to the Pierce County portion of Pacific on Jan. 1 at no cost. The Sheriff’s Department will respond to 911 calls as necessary and provide patrol services at its discretion, Pastor wrote.
The County Council’s resolution says the cost of police services is expected to be nominal. It’s expected the Sheriff’s Department would bill Pacific should a major police response be required.
Pacific, population 6,620, has been embroiled in turmoil under Mayor Cy Sun. A court ordered Sun in September to replace seven employees he fired or who resigned under his tenure.
The Pierce County portion of Pacific is less than a square mile. It has only 85 residents, but also most of the city’s businesses.
The King County Council passed an interlocal agreement Monday to provide Pacific’s King County residents 911, major crime investigation, patrol, flooding and emergency road repair services. The King County portion has a population of 6,535, according to this year’s state estimate.
Whether Pacific remains a city is uncertain. It could do so if it obtains liability insurance for next year. It also could disincorporate or join other cities.
Steve Maynard: 253-597-8647steve.maynard@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/politics
@TNTstevemaynard
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