Lind residents discuss details of Storm Water Project at Council meeting

Stantec Engineer Alan Gay informed Lind residents who attended the regular council meeting on Tuesday, March 14, of the details of the Storm Water Project.

Clerk-Treasurer Kim Michaels presented a pay request from Stantec totaling $8,441.16 for project design services. The Council approved to pay the requested amount.

Gay said the town has reached the total amount budgeted for the design portion of the project, and all the designs have almost been completed.

Due to communication issues between the town and the Department of Ecology (Ecology) he said the project is currently on hold and he expects the timeline of the project to be impacted by the delay.

Lind resident Steve Wahl asked several questions regarding the purpose of the Storm Water Project and the finances involved.

Gay explained there will be multiple systems constructed to improve the town’s water quality, reduce the risk of flooding and damage to the culverts, and decrease the town’s overall maintenance and operating costs of the culverts and Sewer Treatment Plant.

There will be underground storm water storage and infiltration chambers system across from the Lind Medical Center, a widening of an area across from The McGregor Company property to slow the release of storm water across the highway, and a swale trench East of Van Marter near the coulee, Gay explained.

Wahl asked what type of agreement the town has with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) to allow them to locate the swale on the property.

Gay said the town is currently applying for a long-term lease with BNSF, and the location proved to be the most feasible and affordable location for the swale.

With eliminating contamination to the coulee being a priority for residents, Wahl asked how the project would benefit the town’s water quality.

Gay said the underground systems contain a row of chambers at the front, which will collect debris and sediment before continuing through the chamber. Ecology recognizes the details of the project as a best management plan for treating and handling storm water, he added.

The town has already seen a benefit of the project during the vactor truck work, which cleared the town’s culverts and catch basins to reduce run off and prevent flooding, Gay explained.

The project benefits the Sewer Treatment Plant by reducing the amount of water pooling over top of manholes in the town, which floods the Sewer Treatment Plant and causes additional maintenance costs.

Gay stated the project will provide long term benefits for the town by reducing maintenance, flooding, and address excess flows at the Sewer Treatment Plant, and also protect the water quality of the Lind coulee.

Wahl asked about the finances involved with the project. Mayor Jamie Schmunk stated they received an 85 percent grant and the town is currently paying 15 cents for each $1 of grant money.

After they submit the design plans, Gay said he will hold a public meeting to allow residents to discuss any possible disruptions construction may cause for the town.

He will then instruct the contractors on how to address the issues prior to construction in order to prevent affecting resident’s daily routines and scheduled activities.

Gay then presented the outlay report from the United States Department of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding upgrades to the water meters.

Schmunk said they received a grant totaling $80,948.43 to fund the project so it will be completed at no cost to the town. The Council motioned to submit the outlay report.

Schmunk presented Ordinance 17-01 suggested by the Municipal Research and Services Center, to ratify the actions taken by the town officials and employees regarding the 2017 budget prior to being published. The Council approved the ordinance.

During the mayor’s update, Schmunk said the town employees have been working hard to clean reservoir No. 2 from oil build up and filling in potholes created by the excess moisture.