Attendees:
Lisa-Ann Oliver, Flaura’s Acres
Tom Noonan, Flaura’s Acres
Cynthia Fuller, Commerce, Small Communities Initiative Program
Sewer Project
- USDA will require Flaura’s to show how they would repay a USDA loan for the project.
- HOA will still charge fees for water and could add an assessment for the amount of the loan to fees and dues.
- Meeting with the City, County and CDBG staff will be arranged to discuss applying for a CDBG grant for the project.
- Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) may be able to provide assistance for preparing USDA application.
- Approach Clallam County CD about applying for Ecology funding for the project.
Action Items
- Cynthia – reach out to RCAC about helping Flaura’s with USDA application
- Cynthia – contact Cathleen at USDA about status of PER
- Lisa-Ann – contact Clallam County CD about Ecology funding application
- Cynthia – send out prospective dates for meeting with city and county
Work to Date
- Design work is completed and submitted to City. City will not issue an approval until the permit fee is paid. Permit fee will be paid when funding is obtained for the project.
- United Engineering provided an updated engineer’s estimate. The project cost is $1.9M.
- Connection fees are $11,322 per home, but may be negotiable.
- Decommissioning of the individual tanks is $450/home.
- Sewer fees will be $96/month per household.
Funding
- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) General Purpose Grant
- County must apply for funding on behalf of Flaura’s Acres
- Applications are accepted in the spring of each year
- Award is up to $1M in grant funding
- Applicant must demonstrate their residents have a low-to-moderate income (LMI) rate of at least 51% based on HUD LMI data.
- Likes a funding “partner” (other funding source such as USDA RD)
https://www.commerce.wa.gov/serving-communities/community-development-block-grants/cdbg-general-purpose-grants/
- USDA Rural Development
- Applications accepted year-round.
- Subsidy (grant) based on the applicant’s community median household income.
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs/water-waste-disposal-loan-grant-program/wa
Talking Points
- Big environmental benefit both to protection of surface waters of the state, but also to area groundwater.
- Protection of local drinking water source by eliminating leaking sewer pipes.
- Project is ready to proceed – design has been completed and cost estimates in hand.
- Supported by community, but a big financial burden on many of the community members
Other
- Testing for PFAS in all Group A water systems must be conducted by December 2025 (Department of Health requirement).
https://doh.wa.gov/data-and-statistical-reports/washington-tracking-network-wtn/pfas - Lead Service Line Inventory required for all Group A water systems by October 16, 2024 (Department of Health requirement).
https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/331-711.pdf
Next Meeting
April 3, 2024 at 9 am