By Alice Thomas, The Chronicle, 9/10/99
As soon as the environmental impact statement is delivered and the public gets a look at it, plans to build a wastewater treatment facility at the Flying T Ranch northwest of Centralia will proceed.
Thursday, the Citizens Advisory Committee heard a report from Dick Southworth, Centralia utilities director, regarding the status of the Flying T Ranch.
The committee, which consists of 12 Centralia-area residents, has dwindled. Only four members were present Thursday.
In their first gathering since February, they met to ''get caught up,'' said CAC moderator Ed Dix, learning about the confirmation of the Flying T site.
''Plus we got an update on where we are on the EIS,'' added member Ed Smethers.
Too, the group heard the status of another significant part of the process: someone else's green.
''We always knew we needed OPM,'' Dix said.
OPM, or ''other people's money'' will be necessary for Centralia to build its wastewater treatment plant big enough to grow and expand.
The current wastewater plant sits on 4-1/2 acres between the Mellen Street Bridge over the Chehalis River and Interstate 5.
Southworth said the facility could stay at its current location for the next 20 years. However, the city would spend almost as much to update it as the estimated $33 million it would cost to build a new plant.
Other factors - such as the proposed widening of Interstate 5 and the facility's location in a floodway - factor into to the city's decision to look at the possibility of a new plant.
A floodway is different from a floodplain, Southworth explained to the committee.
''You can't build at all in a floodway,'' he said.
With that in mind, the city bought the Flying T in August for $1.174 million. Formerly a beef research and cattle-raising facility, the farm consists of 360 acres.
The city did look at other spots, such as behind Sunbird Shopping Center in north Chehalis, on Cooks Hill and near Centralia High School.
Most of these were more expensive than the Flying T and consisted of less acreage.
It was Centralia City Councilor Tim Browning who came upon the Flying T.
''We were already in negotiations with another property and were going to have to pay three to seven times more for 20 percent of the property (acreage),'' Browning said. ''We got 350 acres for the same price as 40 acres.''
In addition, the outbuildings on the property are ''extremely usable and valuable,'' the councilor added.
Most of the farm's property does lie in a 100-year floodplain. However, the city did a quick assessment and decided to take the chance.
The city did a soil analysis, and can build using a zero-rise building process, Southworth said. This means the city can extract soil from the property to use on other spots on the same piece of land.
Building a wastewater treatment plant wouldn't change the outside appearance of the property, Southworth said. Most of the treatment equipment could fit inside already established barn-type buildings.
''The facility will look the same (outwardly) in many ways,'' Browning added. ''Except the lawns will be mowed more.''
''It's very positive,'' he said.
But, he echoed, ''when you do something like this, you need OPM.''
To become eligible for additional grant and loan funding, the city is hoping to expand the Flying T into something more than just a sewer plant.
The area could be used for additional activities such as fish propagation, wetland building and educational opportunities, Southworth said. And, when the state won't allow discharge into the river, the city can use land application for the treated water without leaving its own back yard.
If Centralia creates wetlands, the project could be eligible for wildlife conservation grants. Too, the fish propagation would allow for salmon preservation grants.
The fish propagation and wetland projects would also allow Centralia to keep all of the property's water rights.
Seven wells, able to pump out 1,800 gallons per minute, sit under the Flying T. The city currently owns all of the water rights, but will lose them if it doesn't use them.
The water will be needed if growth happens as predicted.
Plans are in the works to build a freeway interchange between Centralia and Grand Mound, with roads going from the freeway to industrial property near the Centralia Steam-Electric Plant. Also, the road may be expanded west to Goodrich Road.
Browning said he believes the area east of the freeway will be developed into housing.
''It may look like it is further out of town,'' Browning said of the proposed site. ''But that's where the growth is going to go.''
Now, the city must wait and see if it gets the OPM.
Most of the grant and loan applications have been submitted to the Centennial Clean Water Fund, a program administered by the Department of Ecology or the Public Works Trust Fund.
Southworth said the city may be able to receive ''retroactive funding for property acquisition,'' or, its money back for buying the Flying T.
It will also be looking for dollars for designing the facility.
The Public Works Trust Fund, is Southworth's first choice, because he can get the money faster, maybe even by December, and begin design.
Also, when a small part of a project receives funding, it is easier to receive funding for the bigger projects.
In original proposals, there was talk of building a regional wastewater facility, and sharing resources with Chehalis and Napavine.
But Chehalis has more room for expansion at its current wastewater treatment site, and the city is taking its time in making a decision.
Centralia has made the decision and is ''moving forward,'' Browning said.
The Flying T concept would have room for expansion into a regional facility, but Browning said the concept also depends on the OPM factor.
''If it's other people's money, then who pays isn't a question (between Centralia and Chehalis),'' Browning said.
The Citizens Advisory Committee will tour the Flying T site after the draft EIS had been completed. Southworth estimated the document will be available to the public at the end of the month.
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Alice Thomas can be reached by e-mail at athomas@chronline.com or by calling 807-8232.
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