New Ephrata water tower construction planned
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 4 months AGO
Ray Towry, Ephrata city administrator.
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | September 7, 2023 5:44 PM
EPHRATA — The city of Ephrata will build a new water tower adjacent to an existing city well near Columbia Ridge Elementary School. Ephrata City Council members approved the termination of a lease between the city and the Ephrata School District at the regular council meeting Wednesday.
The vote was 5-0.
“That’s the chunk of land that’s – where, exactly?” asked council member Kathleen Allstot.
“Right in front of the preschool,” said City Administrator Ray Towry. “That’s the property that we own.”
Towry said Thursday that city officials looked for other locations for the new water tower first.
“It just made sense to put (the tower) right there, next to the well,” Towry said.
The property was home to the preschool playground toys, which school district officials are moving to a piece of district-owned property that did have a bike track on it. The bike track has been removed.
The city’s engineers have a tentative date to begin site preparation, Towry told council members, but that doesn’t match up with the school district timeline for vacating the property. Council members approved the resolution leaving the termination date to be negotiated.
Cheryl Schweizer may be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.
MORE LOCAL-NEWS STORIES
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Construction, repair projects starting at GC International Airport
MOSES LAKE — Construction and repair projects will be starting soon at the Grant County International Airport. Airport Director Rich Mueller said contractors are working on preparations for the reconstruction of the apron – a type of aircraft shelter – on the west taxiway, a project started in 2024.
Priest Rapids Dam passes major safety inspection
MATTAWA — A comprehensive safety assessment of the structure at Preist Rapids Dam determined the dam met standards that will allow it to keep operating safely. That was the conclusion of a report released by Grant County Public Utility District officials.
Construction coming on new Quincy Aquatic Center
QUINCY — Residents could see work beginning on a new Quincy Aquatic Center by late spring. “Our architects are working on getting all the documents finalized,” said Russ Harrington, Quincy Parks and Recreation director. “They’re still tweaking things to make sure everything will fit.”