February 21, 2008

Hailey champions Ritzville

wastewater treatment project

Mesa legislator says funding prospects improving

By Stephen McFadden

Publisher

The supplemental capital budget being drafted in Olympia may include an appropriation of $2.1 million to help repair the failing Ritzville Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to 9^th District Rep. Steve Hailey, who sponsored the funding request.

The Mesa lawmaker said prospects for the proposal improved after engineers with the state Department of Ecology’s water quality program re-evaluated the condition of the plant, and designated it as a hardship for the city of Ritzville.

 “I’ve been in discussions with the chairman of the Capital Budget Committee, and he’s assured me that the request is under serious consideration,” said Hailey, who has been working the issue from Eastern Washington with agency officials, budget writers and fellow lawmakers.

The Ritzville Wastewater Treatment Plant was constructed at a cost of $3.2 million. Four lagoon-cells subsequently malfunctioned, including one which has been off-line for two years.

 “The most urgent issue is the possibility of breaching at the plant. Wave action in two cells is also sloughing dirt away and poking holes in the liners, and there’s methane gas under the liner in cell number four,” said Hailey. “The two million dollars we’re requesting would pay about half the projected cost of lagoon rehabilitation and upgrading. This is an extremely serious situation in Ritzville, and doing nothing is simply not an option.”

Hailey commended his seatmate, Rep. Joe Schmick, for also taking an active role in advocating for the funding, and who is similarly hopeful that the Ritzville appropriation will be included in the final version of the budget.

 “The conversations are continuing, there’s bipartisan support for the appropriation, and at this point in the process we’re cautiously optimistic,” Hailey added. “This is a priority, and Representative Schmick and I are pushing hard for it to be successful.”

Mayor Linda Kadlec and Ritzville City Council members Kelly Olson and Harry Schafer traveled to Olympia on Feb. 11 to meet with state legislators about the sewer plant crisis.

City Clerk/Treasurer David Grove also traveled with the team.

Tuesday the mayor told the full council that the group had six meetings with state senators and representatives.

“They were very helpful and concerned with our issues,” Kadlec said.

Kadlec said the state leaders were honest about the tight financial conditions the state is facing.

She said the elected officials appeared to be committed to obtaining some relief for the city.