QUILCENE — Money allocated to fund a feasibility study to build a community wastewater treatment facility in Quilcene can be released as soon as a government sponsor steps forward, the Jefferson County administrator said.
Jefferson County commissioners authorized $100,000 for the project from the county’s Public Infrastructure Fund in March 2012.
Since then, the money has remained in the county coffers awaiting a formal request from an authorized government agency to commission the study, according to county Administrator Philip Morley.
None of the three public agencies identified by Morley as qualified is now willing to sponsor the study.
The Port of Port Townsend, which sponsored the initial request, cannot manage the study because it does not directly benefit port property, port Director Larry Crockett said.
The Jefferson County Public Utility District is a qualified agency, but administering a grant as a pass-through is not part of its charter, according to PUD Manager Jim Parker.
“They can petition us to come in and build a sewer, and we will do it for them as long as there’s local support,” Parker said.
“We don’t administer grants. It’s not our job.”
As for the county, Morley said: “I’m not saying that we won’t do this. I’m not sure that the county is the most appropriate agency.”
The matter came to the forefront last week when Quilcene resident Linda Herzog approached Port of Port Townsend commissioners with a request to contact the county for the status of the funds and ask why they have not been released.
Port commissioners agreed to send the letter, along with a request that a response arrive before the next port commissioner meeting Aug. 26.
Morley had not received the letter by Friday but said the matter is under his consideration.
“It would be appropriate for the PUD and the county and the port to get in the same room with the Quilcene interests and see if a sponsoring agency could be developed,” Morley said.
“And we need to see who in the community has the appetite to pursue this.”
Crockett thinks the county needs to take the lead.
“We think it’s the county’s responsibility to get this project moving,” he said Wednesday.
“It’s been three years, and they need to release the money.”
Crockett said the facility is necessary for Quilcene’s growth.
“There are 90 commercial properties on the 101 [highway] corridor that are on parcels that are so small that if each one built a septic system, there would be no room for a building,” Crockett said.
“By tying into a community system, everyone has room to grow,” he added.
This was echoed by Tom Brotherton, Quilcene General Store owner, at the port’s Wednesday workshop.
He said his 4-year-old business has not been able to expand.
“We are surviving, but we aren’t very profitable,” Brotherton said of the business.
“We are hamstrung. We have a kitchen, but we can’t serve food on the premises. We can’t take advantage of our resources, and it’s dragging down our business.”
“The port has the political power and influence and camaraderie to get this thing going,” Herzog said during the workshop.
“In order for the economy to improve, we are going to need new infrastructure.”
Herzog called feasibility study “the first of about 10 steps” in getting a functional water treatment system in the town.
Herzog said she is stepping up her efforts at this time because an engineer is designing a water treatment system for a private business and would be available for additional work, as he is already in the region.
Herzog said the property owner has agreed that the septic system design he is purchasing may be used as a “jumping-off point” for expanded design work to address the Village Center’s wastewater needs, which leverages resources.
Said Crockett: “We need this feasibility study so we know what the next logical step is to move forward.
“We need to push that button and get the county to respond.”
________
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
