About Us 

Sunland Water District Office

Water is provided to the community via two groundwater wells, located within the district, and does not receive any treatment. SunLand water is moderately hard, and is analyzed monthly for coliform bacteria (indicator organism). Water pumped from the two wells is stored in two 130,000 gallon above-ground reservoirs, with booster pump stations providing pressure to the 11 miles of distribution piping.

Either of the two wells, and reservoirs, is capable of supplying the District’s needs in an emergency situation. The SunLand Water District has senior water rights, ensuring we have more than an adequate supply of water now, and for the foreseeable future.

The SunLand Water District’s Water Reclamation Facility (WRF), located on Woodcock Road, was constructed in the 1980’s and was modified in the year 2000. Additional upgrades were completed in 2015. The WRF now produces Class A reclaimed water. The treated water is used to irrigate the leased field adjacent to the facility and the owner of the field harvests the hay.

The waste collection system consists of 9.7 miles of gravity flow mainlines, and four lift stations which boost the flow from low areas to the WRF. In 2020 a new SCADA and alarm system was added for better control and monitoring. (SCADA = Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System). The reclamation facility is staffed by one full-time and one part-time certified wastewater treatment plant operator and one part-time wastewater operator. The WRF has received multiple Wastewater Treatment Plant Outstanding Performance Awards from the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Tim Berger District Manager

SWD Board of Commissioners

Jim Larison – Commissioner – Position 1 – President

Jim was born and raised in Roy, Utah.   Attended Weber County public schools and received A.S. and B.S. degrees at Weber State College.   He completed a Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Utah in 1969.  Immediately following  graduate school Jim joined the U.S. Air Force as a Bio-Medical Staff Officer and spent a 26-year career doing clinical, administrative and management duties in Europe, the Pacific, and six locations in the continental U.S.   From 1989-1995 Jim developed, coordinated, budgeted, managed and oversaw the USAF Child Abuse and Spouse Abuse and handicapped family member  programs for the USAF Surgeon General at 124 installations worldwide.  During that time Jim also performed on-site inspection duties for the Department of Defense Special Education and Child Sexual Abuse programs.

After retirement from the Air Force at the rank of Colonel, Jim spent two years as Executive Director of a non-profit agency that provided training and employment services to severely physically disadvantaged individuals, including persons with cerebral palsy, head injury, paraplegia or quadriplegia.  Most were wheelchair-bound.

Jim married Lynda Batchelder in 1967 and they have two adult children and four grandchildren.  Jim and Lynda moved to Sequim in 1998 and built their home in SunLand  in 1999.

John Lewis – Commissioner – Position 2

My wife, Anita, and I have been residents of Sunland for the last 7 years. Before moving here, we lived on Camano Island, then McMinnville and now we are back home in Washington.

As a licensed civil engineer (now retired) I have had many and varied work experiences with emphasis on utilities design, and management of facilities, construction, and manufacturing in five states and three Canadian provinces. I spent my last 15 years with the Snohomish County Public Utilities District and retired as Manager Substation Engineering.

In addition to my engineering work, I have served on a number of volunteer boards including a community advisory committee for planning and zoning, the Skagit Bay Power Squadron, the Yamhill County Historical Society and served two terms as a member of Sunland North’s Division 17 HOA Board of Directors.

I believe in public service and giving back to one’s community and commit to work as a team member on our Board of Commissioners.

Al Frank – Commissioner – Position 3

Alan Frank was born and raised in Seattle, Washington.  Alan worked most of his professional career as a Software Developer (programmer).  He has worked and/or consulted for the following companies; Boeing, IBM, Washington Mutual Savings, Microsoft, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Nordstrom.

After three years in the U.S. Army Alan reentered civilian life but continued serving as a reservist and retired in 1997 at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2).

One day a week Alan drives the Port Angeles “Disabled American Veterans” (DAV) van to the Seattle VA Medical Center providing veterans free transportation to their doctor appointments.

Alan and his wife Teresa of forty years moved to Sunland in 2017 (with two very senior cats).  They have one son, two grandchildren and one great grandchild.

SWD Personnel

Tim Berger – District Manager

Tim was raised on a grain farm in Eastern North Dakota. Upon graduation, he moved to Colorado and started a career in water distribution. After 6 years, he switched gears and started working in the water treatment field with 33 years’ experience.

Certifications include Water Treatment Plant Operator 4 and Cross Connection Specialist. He has an Associate Degree in Water Quality Management & Technology from Red Rocks College in Lakewood CO and a BA degree in Business Administration from Regis University in Denver.

Tim, and his wife Kelli, enjoy exploring the area, gardening, and spending time with family and their granddaughter.

Karen Shay – Bookkeeper

Karen was born and raised in Northwest Indiana, graduating with a degree in Accounting from Indiana University – Northwest in Gary, Indiana. She moved to Seattle by way of San Diego with her husband in 2006.  In 2016, they decided to set up long-term roots on the Peninsula in Port Angeles.

Her career started out in Finance as a Financial Analyst for government subcontractors in San Diego. When she moved to Seattle, she was promoted to Finance Manager for an online marketing firm and eventually Expedia. Her love of helping small businesses and wanting a flexible schedule so she could travel more brought a career change in 2013. She’s now a Bookkeeper and Business Manager for several small businesses (SunLand for example) and independent business owners both on the Peninsula and in Seattle.

Judy Gamble – Office Administrator

Judy Gamble was born in a small town in Southern Illinois but considered Southern California her home until 2007. When her husband, John, retired from an HVAC career, they moved to Sequim and settled in SunLand. John passed away in 2013 shortly before their 54th anniversary. They have three adult children, three grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. Before moving to Washington, John and Judy had a small Arabian horse ranch in Norco, CA for 21 years and were involved with breeding, showing, and racing Arabian horses.

Judy earned an AA degree and an AS in Business Management at Mt. San Antonio College. She worked 30 years for an aircraft test equipment manufacturing company, first as an administration manager and then as a marketing manager selling equipment for testing aircraft components such as hydraulic, pneumatic, and fuel systems. She worked for two years after moving to Sequim, doing her job via computer and traveling as required. The US military were her primary customers.

Previously, Judy worked at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona for 11 years as the Dean of Engineering’s Administrative Aide and assisted her husband in their small air conditioning business. Along the way, she passed the rigorous Certified Professional Secretary examination (now called the Certified Administrative Professional exam) and taught CPS preparation classes in the Cal Poly Extension Program.

Willy Burbank – Supervisor Water Reclamation Facility

Willy Burbank is a long-time valued employee, having joined the SWD in 1990.  He is a certified Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator III and Water Distribution Manager II.  Willy provides supervision of the operation and maintenance of a variety of specialized equipment utilized in water reclamation.

Rich Sleeper – Lead Operator Water Reclamation Facility

Rich Sleeper is a certified Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator II, a Water Distribution Manager I and a Cross Connection (Backflow) Control Specialist. Rich joined the SWD in 2016 and is now our lead operator at the WRF and is responsible for  the day-to -day smooth operation of the facility, performing most of the daily testing, process control, equipment maintenance and repair, and transfer of our biosolids to the City of Sequim’s WRF.  Although based at the WRF, Rich also provides back-up for the Water Distribution System and has recently taken over the SWD’s coliform testing of drinking water.

Pat Osborne – Water Reclamation Facility

Pat Osborne has been with the SWD since 2008.  He provides valuable support at the Water Reclamation Facility.

Sheldon “Scott” Garner – Lead Water Distribution Operator

Scotty has been with the SWD since 2006 and is the most recognizable member of the team as he is out in the neighborhoods reading meters and making repairs.  He holds certification as a Water Distribution Manager III and is a Cross Connection (Backflow) Control Specialist.

Rocky Burbank – Water Distribution Operator

Rocky Burbank joined the SWD team in 2020.  He is a Water Distribution Manager I,  a Cross Connection (Backflow) Control Specialist and is also certified as a Wastewater Collection Operator.

Joe Beeson – Utility Operator/Grounds and Maintenance

Joe Beeson is the newest member of the SWD team.  He takes care of our grounds and the District facility.