TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR

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Governor approves waste water treatment plant loan

posted 03/29/02
A ½ percent $3.56 million loan for the town's wastewater treatment plant expansion is part of the state Public Works Trust Fund package signed by Governor Locke Thursday, March 28, 2002. If construction goes as planned the treatment plant will be completed by December 2003.

Brad Musick of Brown and Caldwell told the Friday Harbor Town Council at a March 7, 2002 meeting, "The plant will operate, run and look like a new facility." The entrance will be off of Tucker Avenue rather than Harbor Street. The generator will be located in the center of the plant to minimize noise for the neighbors.

Odor biofilters will pull odors from the infill pump station. The sludge dryer will have its own odor scrubber. "It will look real nice," Musick said. "Most people can have pride in it, in as much as you can in a wastewater treatment plant."

The sludge dryer was added to the plans during the design process.The $400,000 to $450,000 cost of the equipment and installation will be paid back in 12 years by saving the $37,000 it costs annually to truck the sludge to Tenino in Thurston County. Concern about the long term availability of off-island dumping facilities for sludge was the biggest reason to add the dryer according to Town Administrator King Fitch.

During a Jan. 7, 2002 council meeting, Fitch explained how the sludge dryer works. He said it complements the current belt press which turns the waste into a 12 to 16 percent solid which is similar to a cow patty. Heating the sludge in the dryer after it leaves the belt press will kill potential pathogens. "Basically you are making dirt," he said.

Musick said the product meets the criteria for Class A sludge and there are no restrictions on its use.

Some communities develop marketing plans for their sludge Fitch said.

Councilmember Carrie Brooks offered a slogan: Take a piece of San Juan home with you.

Fitch said the town will be able to use a lot of the 380 tons produced each year.

Another change from the current plant is a switch to using ultra violet for disinfection rather than chlorine.

The thrift shop building will become the treatment plant's maintenance shop. Both the thrift shop and food bank are looking for new homes. The thrift shop might be sited at the transfer station under the Trash to Treasure grant proposal.

The timeline for the waste water treatment plant project is:

• May 8: advertise for bids
• May 22: pre bid conference
• June 12: bid opening
• June 20: prepared for council approval.
• Dec. 2003 : completion.should be all done.

Musick believes the construction can be accomplished without ever having to shut down the plant.

$3.5million for Friday Harbor
waste water treatment plant on state list

posted 01/31/02
A $3,560,000 loan from the state Public Works Trust Fund for the Town of Friday Harbor's waste water treatment plant upgrade was on the list approved Jan. 30 by the state legislature's House Capital Budget Committee. The list totals $206 million. The Trust funds low or no interest loans for financing the repair, replacement, or improvement of the following public works systems: bridges, roads, water and sewage systems, and solid waste and recycling facilities.

"This is the real economic stimulus for the session,"said Rep. Gary Alexander, (R-Thurston County) said. "These projects represent a partnership that includes the state, local governments and the private sector. These are jobs from Friday Harbor to Ephrata, Clark County to King County. And, this doesn't affect the state budget. These dollars are loans that have a 100 percent success rate."

The full House and Senate must pass the bill (House Bill 2537) before it would become law.