Soda Springs closes public hearing on wastewater facilities plan required by DEQ
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Summary
City council closed a public hearing on a wastewater facilities planning study required by the Idaho DEQ, heard from Director Dan Squires that a 14‑day comment period is needed to secure state matching funds, and agreed to submit meeting minutes and any comments to DEQ so the project remains eligible for funding.
Mayor Grinton opened a public hearing Feb. 18 on the city’s wastewater facilities planning study and invited comment on potential environmental impacts. Director Dan Squires described the hearing as a procedural requirement by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and said the public must have 14 days to review and comment.
"We have to do [an environmental comment period] on all of them just to give everybody the opportunity to actually see the facilities planning study, give them the 14 days to comment and review it," Director Dan Squires said.
Squires told the council the study identifies recommended improvements to collection and treatment components; the city must document the public hearing and submit written minutes to DEQ to remain eligible for a state match on project funds. No written comments were submitted and no residents spoke during the hearing.
After hearing from staff, the mayor closed the public hearing and the council agreed to forward the meeting minutes and any comments to DEQ so the city can retain eligibility for matching funds. Councilors asked technical questions about historical flow spikes in 2024 and whether those were tied to local construction or seasonal irrigation; Squires said the study and recent camera inspections had identified additional areas of concern that were not flagged in prior planning rounds.
The council took no further formal action on specific construction work at the meeting; the item is intended to satisfy DEQ public‑notice rules and position the city for state funding should the project move to design and construction.
