Key players meeting on sewer plant project

Officials from Coulee Dam, Elmer City, Gray & Osborne, the Colville Tribes and Indian Health Services are meeting and moving toward some decisions on proposed wastewater treatment plant work that has been halted by controversy.

Larry Holford, town council member at Elmer City, said he was pleased with the cooperative attitude of those attending a meeting last Tuesday.

“We need to let the principals get their report together,” Holford stated this week.

Holford said that Alex Dailey, an engineer from Indian Health Services, Frank Friedlander from the Colville Tribes and engineers from Gray & Osborne are meeting to discuss Coulee Dam’s wastewater treatment plans, location, and all aspects of the proposed plant.

“From their discussions, Dailey will write a report of their findings, and this should be available within two weeks,” stated Holford, who was at the meeting.

Also attending last Tuesday’s meeting were Councilmember Karl Hjorten and Barry Peacock from Coulee Dam, and Jimmer Tillman from Elmer City.

Wastewater treatment plant planning came up at Coulee Dam’s town council meeting last Wednesday, with a number of local residents who have been following the project.

One asked whether the town was going to forge ahead with its plan or allow some time so the plan could get a good review.

Councilmember Bob Poch stated, “I, for one, think we should wait and see what comes out of the meeting that’s scheduled. … However, I am just one on the council.”

Hjorten had stated in an earlier meeting that he planned to make a motion April 10 to move on with the project. That was before the meeting of principals was set.

Community activist Greg Wilder, attending the council meeting, asked if he could say a few words, and passed out what he called “50 years of work history.”

He stated that he learned that someone had done a background check on him, so he wanted to set the record straight with a full review of his work history.

The report of the findings of the Tribes, Indian Health Services and Gray & Osborne should be ready for the town’s April 10 meeting.