Our History

The people of McMinnville have long enjoyed low rates and dependable service when it comes to their water supply and electric power to their homes and businesses. We thought you might enjoy knowing how we came to be and where we are going.

In January 1888, a group of McMinnville citizens recognized the need for a city water system. The town was growing and the need for a safe and dependable water supply was recognized. About the same time, the idea was proposed to establish an electric system for the town. With Thomas Edison's invention of the incandescent lamp in 1879 and subsequent improvements in the electric lighting industry, public power systems were beginning to be formed all over the country.

On August 22, 1889, the City Council passed an ordinance authorizing the construction and completion of water works and electric lights for the City of McMinnville. In less than 4 months, McMinnville had new water mains and was able to energize electric lights!

Originally, the City Council directed the public utility, but during the 1905 session of the State Legislature, Senate Bill 241 was passed creating the McMinnville Water and Light Commission. Four members served on the Commission with the Mayor acting as ex-officio chairman. Also in 1905, a proposition for the sale of 5 acres by Mr. C. A. Wallace for a reservoir site on the hill north of the Masonic Cemetery was accepted for a cost of $150.

By 1908, the old electric plant located near the North Yamhill River became inadequate to service the needs of the growing city, prompting the Commission to construct a new electric plant on Baker Creek. This facility soon became inadequate to service the city's power needs and on July 5, 1924, a power plant at 5th & Irvine came on-line powered by two 300 H.P. engines. These engines helped to supply McMinnville's power needs until the 1940's when the Commission made the decision to begin buying power from the Bonneville Power Administration.

In the late 1950's, we entered into an agreement with Grant County to purchase a share of the Priest Rapids and Wanapum hydroelectric projects on the Columbia River. This agreement has proven beneficial to people of McMinnville helping to keep rates low.

With the power needs temporarily satisfied, attention was given to improving the water supply. In 1927, a reservoir was completed at Haskins Creek storing 81.5 million gallons of water. In early 1952, Haskins Creek Dam was raised and renamed the Walter S. Link Dam, capable of storing 226 million gallons of water.

As the town continued to grow, the need for additional water became apparent. The decision was made to construct another dam and at the June 13, 1967 meeting of the MWL Commission, a resolution passed naming the projected new dam and reservoir project on the Nestucca River the Milton Hunt McGuire Dam and Reservoir. In January of 1971 the 1.2 billion gallon reservoir began to fill.

The water from the dams flows through the Norman S. Scott Water Treatment Plant which was completed in 1977.

From the water treatment plant, the water flows to four reservoirs on Fox Ridge Road. Two were completed in the early 50's, one in 1965, and the fourth in 1995. These reservoirs can hold 22.8 million gallons of water when full.

We have grown considerably since 1889 but the reason we exist remains the same. We're here to serve the people of McMinnville.