Oak Harbor has granted Island Disposal a 10-year garbage franchise for a 122-acre area recently annexed into the city.

This past April, the city council unanimously approved a proposal to annex property on the east side of Goldie Road, between Technical Drive to the south and Ault Field Road to the north.

The annexation was largely the result of a desire to diversify the city’s economy. The hope is that the area’s planned industrial park zoning would provide the community with financial backbone and lessen its dependence on Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

Island Disposal, the private waste hauler that serves the majority of Island County, had a franchise to serve the area. The subsequent annexation by Oak Harbor automatically cancelled the franchise, but under state law, the city has to allow the hauler to continue service for at least seven years.

Oak Harbor Public Works Director Cathy Rosen reported that the law also makes clear that waste haulers with cancelled franchises due to annexation may have cause for “measurable damages.”

An additional three years, for a total of 10, was an agreed settlement of any claim for damages the hauler may have, she said. Once the 10 years is up, the area would then be served by the city.

The city council approved the proposed franchise unanimously.