By Alice Thomas, The Chronicle, 1/11/99
PE ELL - A step in the right direction.
That's what some Pe Ell citizens hope they took Saturday during an open meeting to find out who in the community is willing to move toward participation in the Small Towns Environmental Project. STEP, administered through Washington's Department of Ecology, provides rural communities a method to find reasonable, low-cost solutions to solving wastewater problems.
The state doesn't provide dollars, but local residents may receive technical assistance if they are willing to put in the physical labor. This can lead to reductions in the complete cost of the project.
Janice Roderick, an employee of the DOE Water Quality Program, was in Pe Ell Saturday to present information regarding STEP.
Roderick, along with Jim McCauley from the Department of Health and Art Griffith of Gray and Osborne, the town's engineering firm, presented the information to close to 70 local residents.
McCauley reviewed the tasks required to comply with Department of Health regulations, and to maintain a safe and reliable drinking water supply.
''That's why we are here,'' he said.
McCauley listed the tasks of water testing, treatment plant operations, monthly reports, interim treatment plant improvements, and quarterly samples.
Those in attendance also listened to Paula Perry, the mayor of Wilkeson, a town of 400 located 30 miles east of Tacoma.
Two years ago, residents of Wilkeson were faced with a $1.2 million price to upgrade their wastewater treatment plant, lift stations and collection system.
Pe Ell is faced with a 20-year plan and a $13 million cost to complete repairs to both water and sewer problems plaguing the city.
Perry said residents of Wilkeson broke down the project into small pieces, and, using the STEP program, recently completed a project estimated to cost $150,000 for $34,000.
During the Wilkeson projects, people were needed not only to complete manual labor, but to make telephone calls or cook meals for the workers.
Participation in STEP requires a focused, informed community, dedicated volunteers, and both mayor and town council support, Perry said.
''That's essential,'' she emphasized.
In December, the Pe Ell Council approved participation in STEP.
STEP is the partnership of a good community, an engineering firm and DOE, Perry said.
''It's neighbor helping neighbor, and places control back into the community,'' she said.
Roderick said she looks at the amount of community support before offering STEP assistance.
''I look for what we have today,'' she said. ''People (who are) interested.''
Then, community resources start to play a role.
Citizens were asked to fill out a form Saturday detailing times they would be available to help, plus any type of equipment and expertise they could offer.
''Sometimes you don't know what the person two doors down does for a living,'' Roderick said.
Members of the audience questioned how they could list areas of expertise before knowing what type of work would be necessary for the project.
The preliminary interest forms are an ''early step'' toward Pe Ell STEP participation, Perry said. Plus, it's a way for engineers to design projects for the volunteer workers, she added.
Be prepared for roadblocks, she warned.
''Even professional have roadblocks,'' the Wilkeson mayor pointed out.
''That's our job to figure out what needs to be done,'' Griffith said.
A list of the work needed in Pe Ell can be generated very quickly, but ''I can't list what projects should be completed first,'' he added.
''We are trying to establish a resource list,'' said Dennis Harmon, a member of the 10-person Pe Ell STEP committee.
The town of Pe Ell has 350 paying water customers, he said.
''And the few chairs filled here is a start. This is just the first step,'' he continued. ''But this is not going to work with 10 people.''
Joyce Estus, also a member of the Pe Ell STEP committee, said she was impressed with Saturday's turnout.
It's a good, strong beginning, and people showed concern by showing up, she said.
''We have to remember we're a team, and all have to live here,'' she said.
Alice Thomas can be reached by e-mail at athomas@chronline.com or by calling 807-8232.
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