Council started 2022 budget discussion early Tuesday

La Conner Town Council members did double duty Tuesday, starting at 5 p.m. with a special meeting to discuss the public works and wastewater treatment plant sections of the 2022 budget. Council was sent a 16 page special meeting packet Friday, Sept. 10, with a five page memo from Town Administrator Scott Thomas addressing near term “necessary” improvements to the Town’s wastewater treatment plant. It had five sections: a. regulatory overview; b. nutrients; c. expansion and replacement; d. next steps; and e. costs. Following were nine pages of budget tables for public works covering parks, facilities, streets, water and drainage.

Thomas noted that the wastewater treatment plant is “nearing 50 years old and the end of its service life.” The state Department of Ecology will be mandating process changes to capture more nutrients. Wastewater Services, the plant’s contract manager advises “Once the nutrient permit has been finalized, the Town will have guidance as to what activities and improvements will need to be explored to comply with the permit and to refurbish the WWTP for the next 50 years.”

In summarizing future costs, Thomas reported to council that “in 2012, the Big Lake sewer district, which has approximately 800 customers, paid $7 million for a WWTP project. La Conner can expect to see a hefty price tag for necessary work as well.” Thomas has started researching grant and loan options, including the state’s “Public Works Trust Fund Loans (which) are also available at low interest rates (currently, 1.1 % for 20 years),” He did not speculate on possible federal infrastructure funding.

On the agenda of the regular council meeting was the council position vacancy. That meeting packet included a 14 page memo Thomas prepared with: (1) council vacancy application packet; (2) council vacancy advertisement; (3) vacancy policy.

Mayor Ramon Hayes called the special meeting Friday. It took place Tuesday after the Weekly News went to press and will be reported in the Sept. 22 edition.