A compromise better than nothing

WEST PLAINS — It may not be everything, but at least it’s something.

That’s likely how area municipal and agency officials feel about the compromise $6.3 billion capital budget agreement passed April 23 by the House and Senate and now awaiting Gov. Jay Inslee’s signature.

The budget includes $14.955 million in funding for the city of Airway Height’s proposed water well, and $11.05 million for the city of Cheney’s proposed water reclamation “Purple Pipe” project. While not as much as the House’s $16.05 million for Airway Heights and $17.05 million for Cheney, it’s significantly more than the Senate’s proposal approved March 5 which had just $1.9 million for Cheney and nothing — zero — for Airway Heights.

Sixth District Sen. Jeff Holy (R-Cheney) credited the increase in funding to the COVID-19 American Rescue Plan stimulus package approved by Congress in March. According to estimations, Washington could receive approximately $7.103 billion, with $189 million slotted for “critical” infrastructure projects around the state.

“After Congress provided COVID-19 stimulus funding to our state earlier this year, I worked hard to make sure part of that stimulus funding was used to help fund both the Airway Heights water project and the Cheney ‘Purple Pipe’ project,” Holy said in a statement. “I’m glad Senate and House capital budget negotiators fulfilled my funding requests for these two important projects for these two communities.”

While the funding helps, it leaves officials looking for additional resources. Airway Heights’ well is estimated at $22 million, and officials have already submitted funding proposals to the offices of Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Maria Cantwell and Congressional 5th District Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

Cheney has received $3.4 million for the project that will upgrade the output of the city’s wastewater treatment facility to drinking water standards that can then be used to irrigate parks and open spaces along with Cheney School District and possibly Eastern Washington University fields and spaces. The city received $2 million in a direct appropriation from the state Department of Ecology for purchase of the filter and ultraviolet disinfecting system and $1.4 million in a DOE loan with 50% forgiveness for design work.

The total estimate for the project is around $23 million.

“This figure is a significant improvement from the initial $1.9 million line item in the Senate’s original draft budget,” Cheney City Administrator Mark Schuller said of the compromise funding. “We are very appreciative of the efforts of our 6th District legislators advocating on behalf of the project.”

The next move for Cheney is to set up a “Tech Team” of city officials and members of local and state agencies to put a package together to fund the rest of the project. The team was discussed at a Public Works Committee meeting earlier in April after the House had passed its $17.05 million allocation for the project.

Both water projects are important for each city. Airway Heights has faced challenges since tests done in May 2017 revealed firefighting chemicals from Fairchild Air Force Base had seeped into the local aquifer and contaminated the city’s water supply.

Cheney has faced several summers over the past decade where hot temperatures and drought conditions have led to water shortages and irrigation restrictions. While a redrilled Well 3 that came on line in 2019 has helped alleviate some of this problem, city officials hope the Purple Pipe project will further reduce impacts to the city’s aquifer.

“This is a critical project from numerous perspectives including adequate fire protection, environmental/conservation concerns and overall aesthetics and quality of life in Cheney,” Schuller said. “We are excited about the prospects of the Tech Team assisting us in identifying funding sources to complete this project.”

Also receiving funding in the compromise budget is Eastern Washington University, with a $45 million appropriation for Phase 1 of its Science Building renovation making it through along with $16.217 million for infrastructure and minor projects. Eastern State Hospital received $1.055 million for emergency system upgrades and the Cheney Depot Society received $306,000 for its depot rehabilitation project.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].