Council discusses sewer, street improvements

RITZVILLE – Nobody appeared at the March 15 City Council meeting for a public hearing concerning high-priority sewer collection system improvements.

According to city officials, the high-priority sewer collection system improvements consist of six prioritized problem areas identified by staff.

The first priority includes seven connections in the area of Palouse Street and Eighth Avenue, officials said. At that location, there is no city access to the existing sewer lines and the exact location of mains and services are unknown.

The sewer line in the area frequently gets clogged and backs up into basements, officials said, noting it requires frequent cleaning.

The second priority includes six connections in the area of Jackson Street and Sixth Avenue, officials said. At that location, there is no city access to the existing sewer line and the exact location of mains and services are unknown.

The third priority includes three connections located between Columbia and Division Streets, between Birch and Alder Avenues, officials said. At that location three connections meet in the backyard of 106 E. Birch Ave., where city crews have limited access.

The fourth priority includes seven connections in the area of Alder and Broadway Avenues, between Palouse and Columbia streets, officials said. At that location, there is no city access to the existing sewer line and the exact location of mains and services are unknown.

The fifth priority includes 10 connections in the area of Jefferson Street and Third Avenue, where the sewer line runs east toward Adams Street and then makes a U-turn and runs back toward Jefferson, officials said.

And the sixth priority in the project is located at Fifth Avenue and Adams, where there are three connections, officials said. The city has no access to the existing sewer line and the exact location of mains and services are unknown.

The methodology for the recommended improvements includes installing 8-inch sewer mains to serve the affected areas, with a minimum slope of 0.40 feet, approximately 5 inches per 100 feet of distance, officials said. Four-inch connections for each residential service are included, and new manholes in city rights-of-way for access by city crews.

Associated asphalt and concrete work for street, sidewalk, curb and gutter replacement, and other assorted expenses are also included in the recommendation, officials said.

Funding options for the projects include clean water loan programs administered by the state Department of Ecology, water and wastewater loans and grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and grants from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development administered by the state Department of Commerce, officials said.

Application and award processes for these loans and grants can take several months to complete, officials said. In addition, the city can issue revenue bond or general obligation bonds to finance the projects, and use city utility reserve funds.

The total cost for all improvements is estimated at $2,269,000.

The costliest improvement is No. 1, estimated at $575,000. The project is outlined in a 31-page document by Varela Engineering and Management, titled "127-36 Priority Sewer Redesign Report.”

In other business during the meeting, the council:

Passed two reimbursable work requests for the Adams County Public Works Department to perform work on city streets. One request calls for chip-sealing Main Street from Palouse to Jackson. According to Public Works Director Dave Breazeale, this work completes an Americans with Disabilities Act ramp project from last year. The second request is for street surface replacement on Second Avenue, from Cascade to Pacific.

Approved a contract presented by City Attorney John Kragt, appointing attorney Deanna Crull as Ritzville city prosecuting attorney. Crull is a Gonzaga graduate and the owner of Action legal group, PLLC of Spokane. She is expected to run for a district court Judgeship in Spokane County this fall. If successful, Ritzville would be looking for another prosecuting attorney.