Septic Replacement Meeting 1-10-24

by | Jan 15, 2024 | News, Septic replacement

Attendees:
Lisa-Ann Oliver, Flaura’s Acres
Tom Noonan, Flaura’s Acres
Cynthia Fuller, Commerce, Small Communities Initiative Program

Sewer Project

  • Tom and Robert Oliver met with Representative Tharinger, Senator Van de Wege, Representative Chapman and Ryan O’Connor.
    • All were very impressed that the design work was completed.
    • Suggested annexation to the City, or at least connecting the water system at the same time to avoid a similar situation in 10-15 years (dig once).
    • Recommended doing a comparison of connection fees in other neighboring cities as a negotiating point with Sequim for reduction of hookup fees (Lisa-Ann is researching).
    • Flaura’s is planning to submit a Local Community Project form for construction of improvements (Cynthia and Lisa-Ann)
  • Board should connect with Sarah Van Ausdle, the Sequim Public Works Director about the possibility of reducing or waiving connection fees for the sewer project.
  • Lisa-Ann contacted the county about applying for Ecology funding on Flaura’s behalf for construction of the project.
  • Flaura’s will contact the Jamestown S’Kallam Tribe and ask for their support.
  • Flaura’s should consider asking Sequim to apply for a Consolidation Feasibility Study Grant from Dept. of Health. This would allow the city to hire an engineer to determine if connecting the water system to Sequim would be a cost-effective endeavor. DOH is holding a webinar on the grant program on January 17 at 10 am.

Consolidation Feasibility Study Grant Application Cycle

  • Opens February 1, 2024.
  • Applications accepted year-round.
  • We will follow the Consolidation Feasibility Study Grant Guidelines 331-726 for current applications.
    • There was a webinar and a question-and-answer session to explain available funding. Links to the Microsoft Teams meetings for each session and the slides from the 2023 webinars are on our DWSRF webpage, under the “Consolidation Feasibility/Regionalization Grant: Ongoing” dropdown menu.
  • Discussed timing for income survey with RCAC assistance. Income survey is tabled for the time being until commitments from other governments about applying for funding is more certain. The project is already eligible for USDA Rural Development funding.

Action Items

  • Tom will follow up with Jack from RCAC to let him know about postponing the income survey.
  • Lisa-Ann will follow up with county and contact tribe about support for the project.
  • Lisa-Ann and Cynthia will complete the LCP form for legislative support.
  • Association should continue to negotiate reduced connection fees with the city.

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

Next Meeting
January 24, 2024 at 9 am