Attendees:
Lisa-Ann Oliver, Flaura’s Acres
Tom Noonan, Flaura’s Acres
Cynthia Fuller, Commerce, Small Communities Initiative Program
Sewer Project
- Local Community Project form for construction of improvements submitted and confirmation received.
- Engineering report, cost estimates for sewer project sent to Representative Tharinger.
- Comparison of connection fees in other neighboring cities conducted. Connection fees are significantly less than Sequim’s.
- Tom working with new mayor about possibility of reducing or waiving connection fees for the sewer project.
- Association would like to keep control of the water system, so no need to ask city to apply for a Consolidation grant from DOH.
- Move ahead with applying for construction funding for sewer project from USDA Rural Development.
- Continue to ask city, county, and tribe to consider applying for CDBG grant funding in June on the Association’s behalf.
Action Items
- Lisa-Ann will follow up with county and contact tribe about support for the project.
- Association should continue to negotiate reduced connection fees with the city.
- Cynthia will invite Ambrea from USDA to next meeting to talk about applying for construction funding.
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
February 7, 2024 at 9 am