College Place council accepts $1.95 million Ecology grant to build stormwater decant facility

The College Place City Council voted to accept a Department of Ecology grant worth $1,947,500, with a required local match of $102,500, to fund construction of a stormwater decant facility near the city wastewater treatment plant.

Project proponents said the facility will allow crews to dump collected sweepings and leaf material, let liquids go to the treatment plant and dry the solids so they can be used safely as fill rather than entering creeks or the storm system. "This is a stormwater decant facility that allows us to dump that material, let the liquids sort out, and then make their way to the treatment plant and the solids to dry," Mr. McAndrews told council during the presentation.

The council heard that the project is roughly 95% grant-funded and 5% local match: of a roughly $2,000,000 project, $1,947,500 would come from Ecology and $102,500 from the city's stormwater utility funds. Councilmember Green asked whether the match is already budgeted; Mr. McAndrews confirmed it is budgeted and will come from the stormwater utility.

Supporters said the facility will reduce the risk of contaminated runoff reaching the storm system and local creeks. Councilors also noted the operational improvement compared with the current, improvised disposal locations used for leaves and sweepings.

Councilor Strange moved to adopt the resolution authorizing the public works director to sign the Ecology agreement; Councilmember Green seconded and the motion passed by voice vote.

The city will proceed with finalizing the agreement and next steps for construction. The meeting record shows the resolution as "Resolution Number 20 six-two" as read aloud during the meeting.