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Board approves $3 million loan to Linden for wastewater plant upgrade
Summary
The board approved a $3 million gap loan (2.5% over 20 years) to complete a $23.9 million renovation of Linden's wastewater treatment plant to expand industrial capacity, improve environmental performance and support local job growth.
The board approved a $3,000,000 loan to the City of Linden to finish renovations at its wastewater treatment plant, a project staff said is necessary to expand industrial capacity and reduce nutrient discharges to the Nooksack River. The board accepted the staff recommendation to deliver the loan through the Department of Enterprise Services with Ecology oversight; the loan would be repaid from local sewer rates and capital facility charges.
"Our request, $3,000,000 loan, it would be last-in gap funding that would complete this $23,900,000 renovation," said John Hutchings, Linden's public works director, describing replacement of aeration basins, a new blower building, and timing constraints tied to biological process performance. Mayor Scott Courthouse and public works staff described expected job and industrial growth contingent on the upgrades.
Board members probed flood risk, long-term rate impacts and regulatory drivers for nutrient removal. Hutchings confirmed the plant sits on an island in the Nooksack River floodplain and that the city has performed rate studies and increased rates to cover debt service; UTC review had not yet occurred. The board approved the loan by voice vote.
Why it matters: board members said the improvements position Linden to attract industrial employers that use high volumes of water and discharge nutrient loads, while also preparing the plant for anticipated nutrient regulation.
