PORT ANGELES — With a few turns of a golden pump handle, Mayor Richard Headrick started city water flowing Tuesday afternoon to the new Port Angeles Hardwood sawmill and newly annexed western neighborhoods.
“This is really spectacular, and in less than a year,” Headrick said.
“It’s an example of what you can do when you put your mind to it.”
Port Angeles Hardwood LLC, a division of Mount Vernon-based Washington Alder, is almost finished with its $23 million alder and maple sawmill in Eclipse Industrial Park that will be served by the new utilities.
The sawmill will provide 95 jobs with a $7 million payroll plus up to 100 people involved in construction.
The $5.3 million utility extension project included $2.9 million for 7,900 feet of one-inch water pipe, $862,000 for 6,800 feet of 4-inch and 8-inch sewer pipe, and $1.5 million for 26,000 feet of electrical conduit.
Services begun earlier
Tuesday’s handle-turning by Hendrick was ceremonial: The city actually began water, sewer and fire protection services to the area on Friday and has provided electricity service since Oct. 26.
It was likely Headrick’s final official ceremony as mayor. He is stepping down from the City Council at the end of the year after he was defeated for re-election to council Position 4 by Planning Commissioner Betsy Wharton in November.
The City Council selects the mayor, and will determine Headrick’s successor in that post next month.
The new water pumps and their computerized controls are contained in a 1,500-square-foot building at the south end of C Street that served as the stage for Tuesday afternoon’s ceremony.