Council unanimous in support of truck stop project

The Love’s Travel Stop and Country Store appears to be a sure thing following the Ritzville City Council’s unanimous support of a resolution approving the development agreement between the company, the city and the land owner, Galbreath Land and Livestock, Inc.

The agreement clears the way for the construction of the travel plaza along State Route 261 across the roadway from Big Bend Electric Cooperative.

The city conducted a public hearing on the proposed agreement and had just one citizen voice any concerns. Mark Fowler questioned the terms of the indemnification clause in the developer’s agreement and whether or not the city currently has the ability to deliver the needed water for the project.

City attorney Mark DeWulf addressed the contract.

“I was comfortable with it (contract language) during negotiations and I’m comfortable with it now. Could it be better? Yes.”

The agreement established that the Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores, Inc., of Oklahoma, will cover the cost of installing water and sewer lines, extending them from the current city limits to the project site.

The agreement states the company will install a 16-inch water main and a 12-inch sewer main. They will both travel 2,335 linear feet from where the city’s mains currently end on Galbreath Way, under Interstate 90 to the site.

The engineering firm of Varela and Associates, retained by the City of Ritzville, estimates Love’s will spend $930,558 to install the water and sewer mains.

In return the City of Ritzville agrees to install a water booster pump station to ensure the Travel Stop is able to maintain a fire flow of 1,750 gallons per minute.

The city will cover the $525,800 cost of installation of the booster pump.

Additionally, the city has already expended $130,781 in engineering costs preparing for the project.

Those expenses included a water system hydraulic analysis, a wastewater collection system evaluation and consultation and assistance during the negotiation process between Love’s and the city.

The developers agreement also includes a clause that states Love’s agrees to cooperate with the city when it is ready to commence the annexation of the Love’s Travel Store and Country Store, bringing the property into the city limits, which will result in an increase in sales tax and property tax revenue for the city.