Newsbriefs

Repair bill guess:

$61 million

Grant County Public Utility District announced Tuesday that the estimate to repair Wanapum Dam is about $61 million, but commissioners hope to avoid raising rates any more than already scheduled.

The dam was discovered in February to have a crack in its spillway some 65 feet long and 2 inches wide. The crack closed up when the utility lowered the reservoir behind the dam to take the pressure off.

The utility is evaluating how it will use a combination of reserve funds, debt financing and expense reductions to cover the cost of restoring the spillway. Staff continues to work with its insurers to explore potential insurance coverage as well.

Grant PUD plans to maintain the current 2-percent rate trajectory adopted by commissioners last December and will consider rate increases as a last resort.

The PUD said the repair estimate includes all costs associated with fracture investigation, spillway repairs, fish passage modifications, shoreline protection and power supply costs.

Free document

shredding

Saturday

The local Rotary Club has organized a free document shredding event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 26.

The Free Community Shred Day will take place in the parking lot of Strate Funeral Home in Grand Coulee.

The club, along with North Cascades Bank and Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union, will bring Db Document Disposal’s state-of-the-art truck, which will pulverize your sensitive documents on site. Non-perishable foods and monetary donations will be accepted to benefit the Care and Share Food Bank.

Grand Coulee

actions

Grand Coulee’s council at its meeting last Tuesday night approved a request for a beer garden permit for the chamber of commerce for its Harvest Festival, Sept. 3 and 4.

The council also voted to declare surplus a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria and 10 Heckler & Koch USP 40 guns that were replaced by Glocks for the city’s police department.

Colorama

tickets out

Advance tickets for the Colorama Rodeo, May 9 and 10, went on sale this week at two locations in the coulee. Tickets may be purchased at Choice Auto Group and Loepp Furniture.

Adult tickets are $8 in advance and will be $10 at the gate. Student (ages 11-17) price is $5 and those 10 years and under get in free.

Monument sought

Susan Dechant will tell Coulee Dam council about a monument hope several have to honor those who were killed during construction of Grand Coulee Dam. The meeting is tonight (Wednesday) beginning at 6 p.m. at town hall.