Sewer Bills Grow

WAITSBURG - Waits­burg residents will see their sewer bill jump 90 cents, ef­fective on their July bill.

The city council approved the increase at the last meet­ing on July 18.

City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe said the extra 90 cents added to the bills each month will pay for a loan for a sewer lining project. The project, to begin in about one month, will improve the city's terra cotta piping laid mostly in the 1930s. Hinchliffe said the current piping is cracking because of root damage and age. The damage is causing sewer backups and other issues, he said.

The city has hired Colum­bia Pumping and Construc­tion from Pasco to come out and do the work for about $130,000. The city had to take out a low-interest, 20- year loan from the state's Public Works Trust Fund to cover the project, Hinchliffe said. The extra 90 cents will allow the city to pay off the loan in less than 20 years, he said. The interest on the loan is low, about 0.5 percent.

"We don't intend to have it last that long," Hinchliffe said.

The entire project should be completed in about 30 days.

Mayor Walt Gobel said the city chose to improve the lining rather than replace the system because it will cost less.

"If we don't do that it's going to (mean we) replace the system," he said.

Also, Gobel said a portion of the fee increase will be put in a savings account in case of future emergencies with the sewer system.

"We need to start building repair funds," he said.