Public Meeting, October 25, 2006

Citizens & Project Team Discuss Preliminary Design, Cost Estimate & Financing Strategies

On Wednesday, October 25, 2006, Jefferson County hosted a public meeting at the WSU Extension to provide information and take public comment on a sewer study being conducted in the Irondale/Port Hadlock area. The goal of the sewer study is to prepare a comprehensive sewer facility plan that will help the County plan for growth in the Irondale/Port Hadlock area through the year 2030. Approximately 50 members of the community attended the public meeting.

During an informal open house period from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., there were large boards posted around the room with information about the sewer planning process, the preferred sewer system alternative, and potential locations for wastewater facilities. Public meeting attendees were encouraged to view the information and talk with members of the project team.

The consultant team that the County hired to conduct the Irondale/Port Hadlock sewer study gave a presentation and responded to questions about the cost estimate, potential financing strategies, and progress on preliminary design for the preferred sewer system alternative. The consultant team described next steps in the decision-making process and opportunities for public involvement. Members of the consultant team included project manager Kevin Dour, TetraTech/KCM; Jim Santroch, TetraTech/KCM; Katy Isaksen, Katy Isaksen and Associates; and Bob Wheeler, Triangle Associates. The PowerPoint presentation is attached.

Mr. Wheeler said that having a sewer facility plan approved by the Department of Ecology would make the sewer project eligible for a variety of state and federal funding programs. Ms. Isaksen explained that while developing realistic cost estimates and financing strategies was a required component of the sewer facility plan, it was also important as a way to identify the best financing sources available to launch the sewer system. She said that the consultant team had used conservative assumptions to develop the cost estimates to make sure that the project could be done within the estimated budgets.

During the meeting, many questions from the public related to the decision-making process for the sewer, the results of preliminary design, and the cost estimate and financing strategies. The consultant team, County staff, and County Commissioner David Sullivan (District 2) provided responses based on available information.

Ms. Isaksen emphasized that more work would be done during the implementation phase, after the sewer facility plan was approved, to reduce project costs, secure funding assistance, and finalize the method of distributing costs. Mr. Wheeler reviewed the schedule for completing the sewer facility plan and noted that another public meeting would be scheduled before the plan was finalized.

Public Meeting, July 19, 2006
Citizens & Project Team Discuss Recommended Sewer System Alternative

On Wednesday, July 19, 2006, Jefferson County hosted a public meeting at the Jefferson County Library to provide information and take public comment on a sewer study being conducted in the Irondale/Port Hadlock area. The goal of the sewer study is to prepare a comprehensive sewer facility plan that will help the County plan for growth in the Irondale/Port Hadlock area through the year 2030. Approximately 50 members of the community attended the public meeting.

During an informal open house period from 5:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., information was posted on large boards about the sewer planning process, the sewer system alternatives that were considered, potential locations for wastewater facilities, and preliminary cost estimates. Public meeting attendees were encouraged to view the information and talk with members of the project team.

Kevin Dour and Jim Santroch of TetraTech/KCM, the consultant team hired by the County to conduct the sewer study, presented and responded to questions about the alternatives for the sewer system and the rationale, from a technical standpoint, for the recommended alternative. The consultant described next steps in the decision-making process and opportunities for public involvement.

Many questions from the public related to the cost of a sewer system, how effluent disposal/reuse would affect groundwater, and where wastewater facilities would be located. The consultant provided responses based on the preliminary information that was available.

The consultant explained that more detailed information about siting, impacts on hydrology, and cost estimates and financing options would be developed after the selection of a preferred sewer system alternative. They said the focus of the financing options would be on community affordability. They explained that the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners would review the consultant team's technical recommendation at an August 8 workshop and would then make a decision on the preferred alternative.

The consultant team's recommendation is based on engineering feasibility, responsiveness to community concerns, compliance with regulatory requirements, preliminary cost estimates, and environmental considerations.

To provide local input, public workshops were held to advise the sewer study process. Workshop participants included County Commissioners, local agency representatives, community leaders, and other interested parties. Over the course of three workshops, workshop participants and the consultant team reviewed and evaluated a comprehensive array of sewer system alternatives. The workshop participants identified their preferences for each component of the sewer system, including wastewater collection, treatment, effluent disinfection, effluent disposal/reuse, and solids handling. The consultant team used those preferences to help develop the technical recommendation that was presented at the public meeting. The workshops were advertised in advance and were open to the public.