AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The most expensive request council discussed for the state legislative agenda was for $3.8 million per year over a four-year period to help the city construct a new alternate water supply infrastructure that has been needed since the infamous May 2017 incident where PFOS chemicals infiltrated the city’s water supply.
“An alternate water supply is the most cost-effective option for providing the city with a safe and sustainable supply of drinking water,” the state legislative agenda request draft reads. “The city is seeking legislative support to help construct the alternate water supply infrastructure.”
The plan would be for acquiring a new source for obtaining water. The current distribution system would be maintained.
“This (money) would pay for the construction of a new well outside the area, as well as infrastructure necessary to transport it from the well back to the city,” city manager Albert Tripp said.
Tripp noted the request is listed over a four-year period because the total number, which is $15.2 million, would be less palatable to the state.
“We’ve seen in the past where large financial asks (have) some level of pushback in the ability to receive it all at once,” Tripp said. “I’ve not seen a situation where a capital budget request came in higher than $5 million for any community…it’s strategically trying to ask for a smaller, incremental amount over a longer period of time or shorter period of time, in this case four years, to help fund that.”
Tripp likened the request to one Spokane Valley took in the last decade for its septic tank elimination process, which received legislative funding on a yearly basis.
Mayor Kevin Richey said he thinks it’s a “great idea” to request such a large fund, but wasn’t optimistic that the state would provide such a large number. He said he expects the state to say the problem lies with the Air Force and at the federal level.
Councilmember Larry Bowman said he wants to have a conversation with local representatives and senators about the topic to gauge how the problem is being seen at the state level.
“We don’t know what their thoughts are, especially with the contamination,” Bowman said. “Maybe it is the right time to ask for a little more, but I want to get their thoughts on that…when do our emergencies start to become priorities within the state?”
Councilmember Jennifer Morton suggested that during that conversation, the pressing need of the city for an alternative water supply should be stated as of high priority.
“Time is kind of limited,” Morton said. “This is really a pressing issue that needs to be at the forefront.”
Deputy Mayor Sonny Weathers said he doesn’t feel the ask is too big, because it will help make the state aware of the need within the city.
“If we don’t ask, and we don’t ask big, I don’t think they’ll be aware of the impact this has on their citizens,” Weathers said. “I think there’s a chance for us to collaborate with other legislators and districts across the state to build support for this kind of a thing.”
He noted that the state brings in federal dollars and allocates it, meaning the city has an opportunity to allow the state to vie for funds from the federal level.
“I would suggest that we need to pursue funding both federally and through the state, and to the county,” Weathers said. “Instead of looking at ‘either or,’ I say we do ‘everything and.’”
The other four “legislative priorities” listed in the draft include a request for $741,000 to install water and reclaimed water infrastructure for the subarea plan south of Highway 2. Additionally, the draft discusses a request for $1.8 million to install a sewer main and lift station service in that area.
The draft also details a request for $3 million in transportation funding for Phase 1B of the West Plains Connection project for establishing a new east-west travel corridor in the city.
It also describes the city’s desire to create a military benefit zone, which would “support the needs of housing, services and the overall quality of life for military personnel and families.”
Council will next meet Nov. 16 for its legislative session.
Drew Lawson can be reached at [email protected].
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