Council holds workshop to discuss next steps for WWTP

DAYTON-The City Council and Mayor Zac Weatherford met with the Public Works Director Ryan Paulson, Jake Hollopeter from Anderson•Perry and Cynthia Wall-Fuller from the Department of Ecology on March 20 to update and discuss the next steps for the Wastewater Treatment Project (WWTP). Absent were Councilman Dain Nysoe and Councilwoman Shannon McMillen.

Mayor Weatherford informed the council that the city had not yet received a signed purchase agreement from the owner of the proposed property for the project. However, the mayor had a meeting scheduled for later that day to address some questions. Once signed, the agreement would allow 12 months to conduct various assessments for which they have up to $990,000 in hand from the Department of Ecology that is 50% forgivable. They can use as much as is needed up to that limit. Other funding sources can be pursued as to not use the full amount.

Jake Hollopeter from Anderson Perry said a specialty crop is currently being grown on the land and is expected to be harvested in August at which time the assessments would commence. The mayor added he wants to hire someone to manage the zoning and land use assessment portion of the project. Multiple steps would be completed all at once within that period. In addition, ground monitoring wells will be drilled in areas that do not affect the property owner which is already being requested for May. This sampling is required for six months to be completed by the end of the year. A conceptual design will then be drawn in coordination with the City, County, and the Port for both the pipeline and the treatment facility.

The mayor reiterated the goal of the project. "The purpose of this is to build a 12 month, out of the river, most low flood plain [facility] that encompasses the workload of the future for up to 20 years."

The capacity of the current facility is 230,000 gallons per day. On the proposed property they would gauge wetlands capacity based on anticipated population growth over 20 years. He discussed the options where they could build the new treatment facility near the current one on the river and pump the affluent to the wetlands or build it on the new property. The facility would provide aeration as well as in the ponds. Aukerman said they went with the current property because there is room to grow the capacity from 45 acres to 65 acres.

Ryan Paulson indicated they could consider using the decommissioned plant for city shop where there is an existing shop and offices. He and the mayor agreed that building the new plant on the proposed property would be ideal because they would not be limited by the existing footprint of the current facility.

Councilman Tiger Dieu asked about preventing invasive species of plants from coming into the vegetation surrounding the ponds. Weatherford added another concern about mosquitos and answered they would develop a management plan for vegetation and insects by contracting with a company to spray appropriate chemicals.

Weatherford summed the process up to say that once the land purchase agreement is signed, over the following 12 months or more, they will work through the process to assess the land and be permitted, some steps simultaneously to ensure the property will be appropriate for the WWTP. Then, the findings will be submitted to the Department of Ecology for review and the loan will be issued for the land purchase. The plans can then be finalized for the design which can take up to another 12 months before construction begins. Other funding can be obtained to offset using the full $990,000 from Ecology which must be used by April 2024.

Hollopeter stated to save money, some assessments base data from the previous property can carry over to the new property. It is noted the new property is not as close to river as the former property which minimizes concern.

Councilmembers, Hollopeter, and the mayor agree to update the public on the project process and progress timeline.