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Commissioners briefed on wastewater-plant investments, Ecology review and utility grant extensions; Belfair rate transfer flagged for later decision
Summary
Staff told commissioners the county has made notable wastewater-plant upgrades praised by Department of Ecology, received a two-year extension for a Russellwood water-improvement grant, and flagged a $450,000 Belfair fund transfer for future rate-setting deliberation.
County staff reported upgrades and maintenance work at the wastewater treatment plant and said the Washington Department of Ecology has been meeting regularly with local staff and will present comments during a July 14 meeting.
A staff presenter said ecology has asked questions about spray-field monitoring and noted that the pond that holds reclaimed water shows fissures; past consultants recommended inspections and possible tighter lining materials. Staff said Ecology commended recent investments and redundancies at pump stations and other high-priority items, and that a formal written response acknowledging the work would be prepared.
On grants, staff said the Russellwood water-improvement grant received a two-year extension and remains funded. The presenter said a requested scope change is still pending but the extension prevents loss of the award. The countystaff also described plans to convert existing meters to an automated, real-time-reading system as a proposed scope change item.
Commissioners briefly discussed utility rates. Staff asked whether to delay transfer of "0.09" monies (about $450,000) to the Belfair fund pending commissioner direction; staff said removing that transfer would affect rate-setting and asked commissioners to package any Belfair decisions with the rate schedule. Commissioners agreed staff should hold the transfer pending direction and bring the rate proposal back for deliberation on July 14.
Other notes: staff reported a Safe Streets for All grant application for Arcadia Road totaling $1.9 million with federal funding of $1.5 million and a county match of roughly $400,000. No final decisions about rates or grant acceptance were made at the meeting.
Next steps: staff will meet with Ecology on July 14, prepare the formal response and follow up on the outstanding Russellwood scope-change request. Commissioners asked staff to return with a utility-rate schedule that incorporates any Belfair funding decisions.
