Public Meeting, June 8, 2010
Citizens & Project Team Discuss New Sewer Collection and Treatment System and Next Steps
On Tuesday, June 8, 2010, Freeland Water and SewerDistrict hosted a public meeting at the FreelandTrinity Lutheran Church Sanctuary to provide information and answer questions[Link to “Public Questions, and Responses” document]about the New Sewer Collection and Treatment System and to discuss the next steps for sewer design and financing. The Sewer Collection and Treatment System will help IslandCounty plan for growth in the Freeland Non-Municipal Urban Growth Area. Approximately 28 members of the community attended the public meeting.
During an informal open house period from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., large boards were posted around the room with information about the sewer planning and design process, the Freeland Water and Sewer District sewer service area, and potential financing options. Public meeting attendees were encouraged to view the information and talk with members of the consultant team as well as theFreeland Water and Sewer District Board members and staff.
At 5:30 p.m. Freeland Water and Sewer District President Rocky Knickerbocker welcomed meeting participants and offered some background information about the project. He then introduced meeting facilitator, Bob Wheeler from Triangle Associates who asked meeting participants to go around the room and introduce themselves. He then introduced members of the Tetra Tech consultant team, including Jim Santroch, Lisa Adolfson, and Katy Isaksen, who will complete the application for grant and loan funding to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development. Mr. Wheeler then explained that the June 8 and July 6 public meetings were part of a project on a very tight timeframe to meet the grant and loan application deadline. The public meetings are part of the application requirements to inform the public and engage them in the project.
Bob Wheeler then introduced Gary Hess, who is the District’s Engineer. Mr. Hess presented information about the rationale and need for the New Sewer Collection and Treatment System noting that sewers will address pollution in Holmes Harbor, potential groundwater contamination, economic and job viability, development to planned urban densities, and fulfillthe community’s vision. He then outlined the project’s timeline and discussed the one-time opportunity provided by the USDA Rural Development Program to potentially receive full funding through a combination grant and loan package.
Jim Santroch from Tetra Tech then provided a presentation[Link to June 8 PowerPointdocument] on the technical aspects of the project. He explained that the project phase one is now larger than what was initially proposed in 2005. He reported that thiswill be a pressurized sewer system and would have a treatment plant located at the top of Bush Point Road. Currently the project team is considering two different types of pressurized sewers: a grinder pump system and a septic tank effluent pump, or STEP, system. The grinder pump system includes an on-site grinder and then the sewage would be pumped up to the treatment plant. The STEP system would use a septic tank to allow solids to settle, so that the remaining clear effluent could be pumped to the treatment plant. Both types of systems would require certain elements (STEP tank or grinder pump basin) to be located on each property served.
Mr. Santroch then presented details surrounding the treatment system and reuse site. He explained that the treatment plant would use a membrane bioreactor (MBR) system to treat wastewater. MBR technology was recommended in the 2005 Comprehensive Sewer Plan to protect groundwater as it treats water to Class A water quality standards. The membrane bioreactor treatment system would offer environmental benefits including the opportunity to use reclaimed water to recharge local groundwater through infiltrationand/or apply on forest land. The reuse site – the location where the treated water will be dispersed – is located on an 80 acre parcel near the Trilliumproperty. There, the Class A reclaimed waterwill be applied to the forest to recharge the local groundwater, or possibly used for irrigating forest land.
Katy Isaksen then presented information about funding the New Sewer Collection and Treatment System. The opportunity that the Freeland Water and Sewer District is now applying for has come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is sending money through to USDA Rural Development Program. This is a unique opportunity to obtain fundingfrom one source for the initial project. In order to develop a strong application, she explained that it was important to develop cost estimates and financing strategies as a way to identify the most advantageous financing option(s) available to launch the sewer system.
She explained that the consultant team would use conservative cost estimatingassumptions to help make sure that the project could be financed within the estimated amount.Ms. Isaksen also provided information about developing a local improvement district (LID), which is a financing mechanism that allows for sewer improvements to be financed by property owners over a specified period, for example 15 years. This funding tool is guided by state law and stipulates that the costs cannot exceed the special benefits of the project. The law also specifies specific options for opting out of the LID. She noted that there is a specific process for LID formation that requires formal notice of all property owners and also includes meetings and mail notices. This will be more fully discussed at the July 6 public meeting.
For the July 6 public meeting, the project team will be updating theestimate of onsite costs to provide a range of what it will likely cost individual residents and businesses. Additionally, the consultant team will continue work to confirm and refine the construction costs and operations and maintenance costs in order to provide better cost estimates per equivalent residential unit.
Please see the <questions from the public>[Link to “Public Questions, and Responses” page]for details about questions and answers regarding financing issues.
The <public asked many questions>[Link to “Public Questions, and Responses” page]related to the decision-making process about the sewer, the facility plan, facility siting, and the cost estimate and financing strategies. The consultant team, along with Gary Hess and District President Rocky Knickerbocker, provided responses based on available information. At 7:30 p.m. Mr. Wheeler thanked meeting attendees for their time and questions and explained that the project team would continue to develop more information for the July 6 public meeting in advance of the July 15 USDA Rural Development grant and loan application completion. The consultant team described the next steps in the decision-making process and opportunities for public involvement.