PUD discusses Westend projects

Wahkiakum PUD commissioners discussed several items relating to western Wahkiakum County utility customers at their February 2 meeting, including hearing public comments on a potential grant application to fund expansion of a water system west of Deep River.

On January 28, Manager Dave Tramblie sent a letter to customers in the affected area informing them that he was considering applying for a matching grant to extend water system service to the area along SR4 west of Deep River. Currently residents in that area use well water.

The PUD’s engineering firm estimated a cost of around $610,000 for the project exclusive of local matching funds totaling approximately $300,000, the cost to be borne by the customers that connect to the new expansion. The deadline for the grant application is February 12.

Tramblie’s letter requested verbal comments at the February 2 PUD commissioners meeting and clarified that the grant application would not be pursued unless there was support from the public.

Salme Hill / Deep River area residents Gary Stephens, Corbett McMaster, and Pam Anderson attended the meeting to comment on the grant application. All spoke against pursuing the grant because of the high burden of the match for customers.

Commissioner Larry Reese responded, “This was dropped on our management team with very short notice and it would be negligent of us not to present it to you.”

Commissioner Esther Gregg explained that many government grants do not cover the whole cost of a project and instead require matches from local funding sources. The PUD has a policy that those customers who benefit will bear the cost of matches, Gregg said.

Gregg suggested that residents in the area might work together to form a local utility district that would have the authority to pass bonds. This would allow residents to spread the cost over a 20-year period of time, Gregg said.

Tramblie clarified, “Sounds like we shouldn’t go ahead with the grant application,” which the board affirmed.

Gregg commented she had recently spoken with Covered Bridge Road residents who are concerned about the brightness of lights on the bridge during nighttime. Tramblie offered to install a light fixture that would direct the light downward rather than out.

Gregg also reported that she had been asked why the crew replacing electric lines on Altoona-Pillar Rock Road was replacing some underground lines with overhead lines. Tramblie explained that overhead line was chosen for the project because of the difficulty of excavation along Altoona – Pillar Rock Road.