Council approves land-purchase agreement for Waste Water Treatment Project

DAYTON–The City of Dayton plans to purchase up to 65 acres of Touchet Valley land west of here as part of the Waste Water Treatment Project for $21,000 per acre, the City Council unanimously approved at its February 14, 2023, meeting.

Resolution No. 1507 was presented to Council to authorize Mayor Zac Weatherford to enter into a purchase agreement for land for the Wastewater Treatment Plant from Douglas and Marjory Krueger. The property consists of a parcel of bottom land and hillside south of State Route 12, between the Rose Gulch Road intersection, approximately to the Dumas Station Winery, about three miles west of Dayton.

The land-purchase contract, which Mayor Weatherford is authorized by Resolution 1507 to enter on behalf of the City, permits the purchase of up to $1,365,000 of land. The contract requires the City to put up a modest $5,000 in earnest money.

“This would be a very big step for Council to approve,” said Mayor Weatherford. “Once this is approved, as per this agreement, we will enter into a 12-month time period where the City will do all the due diligence in order to make sure that property is going to work. After that, we will move into a design phase which is expected to be roughly 12 months and then move right into construction. So, hopefully one day we will see a new wastewater treatment plant.”

Councilmember Teeny McMunn was the first to voice her approval of the agreement followed by the unanimous authorization of the resolution by the rest of the council.

“…I know that is a huge step that takes a lot of the stress off of not only my city staff but Anderson Perry, Ecology–everybody that has been involved with this project a long time,” Weatherford said.

Council had met the previous week in executive session to review the contract. Officials from the Department of Ecology and representatives from Anderson•Perry & Associates were present.

The City Council also approved an emergency declaration due to extensive damage to the current WWTP due to winter weather conditions in December; and was presented for approval the franchise agreement with Charter Communications for them to construct and provide broadband and cable TV during the meeting.

In addition, County Commissioner Ryan Rundell reported about flood mitigation efforts with contributions from City Public Works Director Ryan Paulson. Other key reports were given from the mayor, Shannon McMillen of the Human Resources Committee, and Tiger Dieu from the Parks and Recreation Committee. At the close of the meeting the Mayor and Council discussed the impact on the City of Dayton and the residents of the rising consumer price index (CPI).

An emergency declaration was approved because the water treatment clarifier has become inoperable from damage due to ice in December, and it is costly to properly repair. The representatives from Ecology said the declaration would allow the city to be granted an expedited 0% interest loan to cover the needs. Paulson clarified that declaring an emergency does not mean the city is facing an actual emergency but that they are attempting to mitigate the situation from becoming one if not dealt with.

Councilman Dain Nysoe questioned making the declaration when it is not an actual emergency. Paulson answered that they currently have a temporary fix that may not hold. This could cause pollutants to leach into the river and flow downstream which could bring third-party lawsuits.

The mayor added the problem could cost up to $300,000 to fix which would deplete sewer funds. If something else were to break down from deferred maintenance, it may not be an emergency, but they would not have the funds for the repair, nor would they qualify for emergency funding.

Council approved the ordinance to declare the emergency unanimously.

A franchise agreement was presented from Charter Communications to construct, operate, and manage telecommunications networks including broadband fiber and cable television network for the City of Dayton. Councilman Jim Sueuga suggested the contract include a clause which would delay construction by at least three months to allow the Port of Columbia to construct their network first since the City, County and the Port have invested in the Port’s broadband project. At the advice of the City Attorney Quinn Plant, Mayor Weatherford recommended they table the approval for later to allow the Port to commence with their construction without interference. Council approved to table the matter until June.

Commissioner Rundell told Council that Public Works Director/Engineer Grant Morgan met with representatives from The Army Corps of Engineers about the sediment removal in the river channel through town and that grant funding is being pursued to help fund the efforts. City Public Works Director Ryan Paulson added that he is communicating regularly with the Corps, as well as Fish and Wildlife to get regulatory officers out to the levee to review and take steps to move forward on sediment removal. He also reported they are working on the potholes around town and groundwork has started on a small housing development at the end of South Second Street.

Shannon McMillen reported for the Human Resources Committee and announced they have interviewed two candidates for the City Planner. Mayor Weatherford added in his report that they are moving forward with negotiations to fill the position. He also announced new signage on the roads coming into town that post the citywide speed limit of 25 mph unless otherwise posted.

Tiger Dieu of the Parks and Recreation Committee said that they are planning a meet-and-greet among the organizers of the different local sports leagues for parks usage and scheduling so the leagues can work cohesively with each other and the city.

The council discussed the increased consumer price index (CPI) of 8.2% which is about double from last year and four times higher than previous years. As a result, the payment to the County for the contracted services of law enforcement, dispatch, and court services has increased to nearly $700,000. This affects Dayton residents who pay a 12% utility tax to help cover the expense. Nysoe suggested they need to have discussion about the services. The mayor pointed out that the city is in the middle of a five-year contract, but agreed the Public Safety Committee should review the situation and the options.