Public Works Board approves emergency awards for Waitsburg, Connell and Spokane landfill
September 04, 2026 | Board Council Commission Agencies , Executive, Washington
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The Public Works Board approved a set of emergency awards at its Sept. 4 meeting to respond to recent infrastructure failures.
Waitsburg: Staff recommended a $300,000 emergency award to realign about 2,000 linear feet of compromised sewer main discovered during adjacent water-main work. Because Waitsburg is a distressed jurisdiction, staff proposed an 85% loan and 15% grant split, and the board approved the motion moved by Dean Reynolds and seconded by Matt Stevie.
Connell: Allison Mitchell, presenting on Connell, said an embankment failure between lagoon cells had taken two of four storage cells out of service and the city declared an emergency earlier in 2026. Staff asked for a $720,000 award (85% loan/15% grant) to reconstruct embankments, restore liners and stabilizing features; the board approved the staff recommendation (moved by Member Clary, seconded by Member Stevie).
Spokane landfill: Staff requested a $1,000,000 emergency award (100% loan) to repair and restore the North Side Landfill after an early-August fire damaged vegetation and critical infrastructure. Trace Breiber, representing the city of Spokane, said preliminary cost estimates are about $2.1 million and that FEMA and insurance recoveries are being pursued but timing and eligibility remain uncertain. The board approved a $1,000,000 loan to the city by voice vote.
Each action was presented as an emergency repair to preserve operations and local financial stability; staff noted statutory requirements that reimbursements (e.g., FEMA, insurance) received after PWB payments may need to be returned to the assistance account per policy and statute.
Waitsburg: Staff recommended a $300,000 emergency award to realign about 2,000 linear feet of compromised sewer main discovered during adjacent water-main work. Because Waitsburg is a distressed jurisdiction, staff proposed an 85% loan and 15% grant split, and the board approved the motion moved by Dean Reynolds and seconded by Matt Stevie.
Connell: Allison Mitchell, presenting on Connell, said an embankment failure between lagoon cells had taken two of four storage cells out of service and the city declared an emergency earlier in 2026. Staff asked for a $720,000 award (85% loan/15% grant) to reconstruct embankments, restore liners and stabilizing features; the board approved the staff recommendation (moved by Member Clary, seconded by Member Stevie).
Spokane landfill: Staff requested a $1,000,000 emergency award (100% loan) to repair and restore the North Side Landfill after an early-August fire damaged vegetation and critical infrastructure. Trace Breiber, representing the city of Spokane, said preliminary cost estimates are about $2.1 million and that FEMA and insurance recoveries are being pursued but timing and eligibility remain uncertain. The board approved a $1,000,000 loan to the city by voice vote.
Each action was presented as an emergency repair to preserve operations and local financial stability; staff noted statutory requirements that reimbursements (e.g., FEMA, insurance) received after PWB payments may need to be returned to the assistance account per policy and statute.
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