PRIEST RIVER — The first phase of improvements to the city's wastewater treatment plant, or "water resource recovery facility," is nearing completion, with a total expenditure thus far of $2.3 million.

With a total estimated cost of $3.9 million for completion of the project, the city of Priest River received an Idaho Community Development Block Grant from the Idaho Department of Commerce for $500,000, in addition to a USDA Rural Development loan of $2.65 million and $700,000 in additional grant funding.

"There are two public hearings required for every grant received by the city from the Department of Commerce, so this is the second one," Sherri Wastweet, grant administrator with Panhandle Area Council, told City Council members on Monday. "They used to want us to do it at mid-point, but now they like it to be 75 percent to 100 percent complete. As of the end of February they were about right about 80-percent complete over there."

The contractor, IMCO General Construction, began construction in June 2017. Completed upgrades and improvements to the plant include installation of the influent screw pump, masonry work on the new headworks building — headworks is the initial stage of the wastewater treatment process — installation of a headworks equipment rack, as well as installation of a new anaerobic mixer, mechanisms on two of the clarifiers and a metal building for solids dewatering. An electrical panel, lighting and heater are in place in the control building as well.

Remaining work includes installation of a fine screen, grit vortex chamber and grit classifier, completion of the headworks facility, completing upgrades to the two clarifiers, equipment installation for solids dewatering, overhaul of the UV disinfection system, completion of the utility water pump station, completion of the control building electrical system, flow meters and a new motor control center.

Mayor Jim Martin said substantial completion is expected by the end of April for the first phase of the project.

The original project scope also included replacement of "critical" failing sewer lines, replacement and repair of manholes and relocation of the James Street lift station, Wastweet said. Due to cost, however, the city decided to hold off on those items until the second phase of the project. The city is waiting for final funding approval by the IDC for the second phase, Wastweet said, adding they should find out by early May at the latest.  

"The reason the city of Priest River was able to qualify or a block grant is because they qualify as low to moderate income, 69.5 percent by survey," Wastweet said, adding the survey was administered in 2015. "It also will help the city lower their energy cost at the facility, provide higher treatment performance and increase operator safety."

In addition to the construction costs, the city had prior expenditures of $80,000 for a wastewater facility plan by Mountain Waterworks and $5,000 for grant writing paid for using city cash, as well as Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and USDA grants.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.