The Goldendale City Council met last night, and the majority of the agenda dealt with the city’s wastewater treatment plant. On the positive side, the treatment plant received an Outstanding Performance Award from the Washington State Department of Ecology for achieving full compliance with its national permit. Mayor Mike Canon read part of the letter received by the city:
“It takes diligent operators and a strong management team working effectively together to achieve this high level of performance. It is not easy to operate a wastewater treatment plant 7 days a week, 365 days a year without violations. It’s phenomenal”
On the downside, the council heard at its previous meeting that there were problems developing in the treatment plant’s sludge lagoon and other items that need to be dealt with soon. The estimated cost would be $4 million. The Department of Ecology has accepted an application from the city for a $4 million loan to cover the problem. But in order to pay back the loan, the city would need to raise sewer rates by an estimated $10 per month.
Councilors ultimately decided to postpone accepting the loan until the next council meeting on August 16, to see if there are grants available. Any grant would reduce the amount the city would need to raise sewer rates. But the loan offer will expire from Ecology has already been extended past a June 1 deadline, and would effectively expire for the city after the next meeting, so there is some pressure involved.
8/02 Goldendale City Council Meeting
