Elmer City to try for its own sewer plant

The town of Elmer City last week took the first steps towards developing its own wastewater treatment plant and leave Coulee Dam to pay all of the costs of a plant upgrade its been planning for both towns.

The town council and Mayor Mary Jo Carey expressed disappointment Thursday night in the way officials in Coulee Dam the night before had treated Elmer City. They see development of their own sewer facility as the best alternative they have.

Town officials agreed to look at a site between Elmer City and Seaton’s Grove, get an engineering firm to prepare a grant request for a public works trust fund loan, call a town meeting, and work with the Colville Tribes and Indian Health Services for possible participation.

Councilmember Donna DeWinkler told the council that she has found an ideal spot for the plant between the town and Seaton’s Grove. She said the site would help eliminate a number of septic tanks in the area.

Mayor Carey suggested a townhall meeting to advise residents of what is going on. She also said that she will invite an engineering firm that has shown an interest in helping to prepare a loan request.

The town has its sights on a much smaller project, something in the neighborhood of the $2.3 million version of what it had hoped Coulee Dam would focus on, rather than its current $4.92 million plan.

Elmer City officials have repeatedly charged that they haven’t been included in the planning of the Coulee Dam project, and despite recent efforts, they contend, officials there have rebuffed any attempt Elmer City has made to steer the project to a lesser cost.