PRIEST RIVER — As the first phase of the city's wastewater treatment plant project is scheduled to wrap up by the end of the month, city officials are looking ahead to the second phase.

During the April 16 City Council meeting, council members approved an agreement with H2 Surveying for a survey of the sewer lines in need of replacement.

"This survey is going to give them more information to do an engineer report and design for doing the new sewer lines," said Public Works Director Rex Rolicheck.

As for the first phase of the project, completed upgrades and improvements to the plant at the beginning of April included installation of the influent screw pump, masonry work on the new headworks building, 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 at that time included 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.

The second phase will include replacement of failing sewer lines, replacement and repair of manholes and relocation of the James Street lift station. During the April 2 council meeting, Sherri Wastweet from Panhandle Area Council updated city officials on the project in regards to an Idaho Community Development Block Grant from the Idaho Department of Commerce. The city received $500,000 last year to support the project, and were waiting to hear whether they would get funding again for the second phase of the project.

According to an April 19 statement from the office of Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, the city was, in fact, awarded another $500,000 to support the wastewater improvements.

City Clerk Laurel Thomas also updated council on the city's other large project of the downtown revitalization. Due to a funding deficit, city officials have discussed scaling back the project this year, though no decision has been made on the portion to be completed. City officials plan to reapply for funding through the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council in December.

As the city has also received block grant funds for the downtown revitalization project, Thomas said she was told by the Department of Commerce the city can hold off on using the block grant funds as long as some portion of the project is completed this year, whether it be burying the utility lines or another "stand alone" project.

Council members also approved personnel policy amendments and rejected a parks maintenance bid of $16,000 with the decision to go with a temporary hire. A discussion on multi-unit utility rates was tabled in the absence of Mayor Jim Martin, and a request by the Kalispel Tribe for a letter of acknowledgment for National Tribal Transportation Facility Inventory was tabled as council sought additional information on the request.

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