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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
January 30, 2014     Shelton Mason County Journal
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January 30, 2014
 
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City commissioners split on water plans By GORDON WEEKS gordon@masoncounty.com The Shelton City Commis- sioners are split, by a $7-mil- lion margin on how much money to seek to improve the city's public water system. Commissioners Mike Olsen and Tracy Moore on Monday said they favor one option. proposed by its staff to accept a $2.1 million grant from the state Department of Health, and apply for a $6.9 million loan from the same depart- ment. That money would be spent on many projects in the city's 20-year water plan, in- cluding extending water ser- vice to the Washington State Patrol (WSP) Academy, fin- ishing the Angleside booster pump project, completing parts of the other major proj- ects and adding several sys- tem improvements. Mayor Gary Cronce, the third commissioner, said he favors another option: a $2.1 million grant from DOH and a required matching $2.1 mil- lion loan from that agency. That amount provides service to the WSP Academy, finishes the Angleside booster pump project and adds a few system improvements. "I'm a little gun-shy about borrowing another seven mil- lion dollars," Cronce said. He added, "We owe $56 mil- lion bucks (for the improved sewage treatment system), and our rates are high ... I'm trying to pull this debt back." The three commissioners made their recommendations after a PowerPoint presenta- tion by Greg Clark, director of Public Works, and City Engi: neer Mike Michael. The city's water system improvement plans are driven by state and federal requirements for safe and-reliable water, Clark told the commissioners. Michael pointed out that the state Department of Health instructs engineers how to de- sign, build, operate and main- tain water systems so water is safe, and available in homes and at fire scenes. All the work must be done during a 20-year window. "In our system, storage is our key deficiency," Mi- chael said. The city's system requires the storage of 200 gallons per residential customer. That amount makes at least two days of water available in case of a power outage or a disaster, Clark said. "You don't think about it until there's some major catas- trophe," he said. At a previous commission meeting and again at a board retreat Jan. 9, none of the com- missioners expressed an inter- est in Option 1. That option calls for no loan, and the mini- mum amount of work to meet the requirements of bonds is- sued in 2013, Clark said. That plan delays most system improvements, likely including meeting the city's commitment to getting wa- ter to the WSP Academy, he said. With Option 2, DOH will give a $2.1 million grant if the city takes a $2.1 million loan, Clark said. The advantages include an interest rate of 1 percent, and no loan origina- tor fee, which would have cost about $100,000, he said. If the city gets a $2.1 mil- lion grant from DOH and the additional $6.9 million loan, it can tackle many projects, while projected annual rate increases would remain the same at 3 percent to 5 percent annually, Clark said. That op- tion provides "the lowest risk to the public," he said. See WATER on page A-11 Puppy playpen Oral sedation dentistry is the answer to all your fears. Call for a free consultation. 426.9711 Dr. William Busacca, DDS, PS Preferred Provider  DELTA DENTAL www.MySheltonDentist.com Journal photo by Lloyd Mullen Doberman pinscher/Labrador retriever mix puppies crowd near a chain- link fence Friday at Adopt-A-Pet in Shelton. "We Make House Calls" I Need a roof? ' I I Choose your own I Your Full Service Roofer Since 1959 I special offer! • Year-Round ONE DAY Services in most cases • 24 hour EMERGENCY services available • COMPLETE .roofing services for all your residential, commercial and industrial roofing needs , Lifetime Product WARRANTIES available • Composition, metal, shakes, tile, flat roofs, windows and decks - we do it alll , Professional job site cleanup on all projects CALL NOW for your FREE ESTIMATE! I -- Either -- I 48 Months with I I 0% Interest I I Financing O.A.C.* I i -or- i 10% Cash I I Back Bonus* ! I * May not be combined with any other offers I or discounts. Ask your local representative for I details. Financing available on approval of L....credit'Offers,._expire 1/31/2014. -I 1131 W, Kamilche Lane. Just off HighwaylO1 , Also rving: Opia, Lace,y, Tumwat.. ,Tenino Yelm Tacoma Montesano Aberdeen McKenna, Gig Harbor, Centralia, Chehalis, Longview, Vancouver. Roy o     Mason County Journal - Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014 - Page A-3