WASTEWATER: Tenino debates whether to build public system and take out the old septic tanks
By Ronald Hoss, The Chronicle,The Chronicle, 9/5/99
TENINO - Tuesday evening, the Tenino City Council authorized Mayor Jean Pettit to enter into a contract with WWW.Systems of Lacey to conduct a feasibility study of constructing a wastewater-sewer system for the city.
The contract will cost Tenino nothing; the consultants are to pick up all costs involved.
The study is seen as a preliminary step toward further discussion of the issue within the council and the public.
K. Frank Kirkbride, WWW.Sustems chairman, told the council he anticipates from six to eight weeks for his group to get the study completed. He said the company would be meeting with environmental officials, as well as surveying the area under study, before assembling the completed cost analysis data.
The possibility of a sewer system for Tenino has a long history of public debate within the community. In the past, residents have turned down attempts to construct one, preferring to continue using existing septic systems.
Most recently, the need to construct a central system was the key recommendation of an economic development plan completed in September of 1996 by a large consulting organization. The study observed that current septic systems are believed to handle wastewater volumes far beyond their designed capacity.
The Systems group has been active in designing and constructing engineered wastewater processing plants in Eastern Washington, counting among its clients the Lamb-Weston Co. and the city of Quincy.
In other council action, a position of court bailiff was created. The mayor will enter into a contract with the police department to staff the new addition, whose primary responsibilities will be concerned with the monthly traffic court meeting.
By vote, the council agreed to complete annexation of a parcel of land known as the Greene Addition, located off Old Highway 99 near the railroad tracks. Walter A. Greene, who owns the property, had petitioned the council to act on the matter.
The council renewed its contract with the Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties for rent of the Quarry House two days a week for senior citizen meals.
The next council meeting will be held Aug. 17.
Ronald Hoss is The Chronicle',@ South Thurston County correspondent he can be reached by E-mail at RHoss@compuserve.com or by calling 866-4063.
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