Warden talks with county

Sewer replacement, burn ban discussed

WARDEN — Officials and citizens from Warden had an opportunity Wednesday to weigh in on issues facing the community with the Grant County commissioners.

Commissioners are hosting meetings with all cities in Grant County throughout the year to discuss community issues. Those attending the Warden meeting came from sectors including city, law enforcement, schools and emergency services.

Replacement of the sewer, overcrowding of jails and the burn ban were among several items of interest brought to the table.

A mandate to replace the city's sewer, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, went into effect three years ago.

"We've been federally mandated to update our sewer, yet the funds are not there for us," said Mayor Roldan Capetillo.

Council member Tony Massa said the cost of the project is nearing $10 million. The city was approved for a $5.5 million loan, Massa said.

The city applied for a $1 million grant last year and did not receive it because they were approved for the loan, Capetillo said.

"We didn't get it this year, either," he said.

The city is waiting to sign the loan to see if it can receive grant dollars, he added.

Commissioner LeRoy Allison mentioned Strategic Infrastructure Program dollars are available as matching funds to smaller jurisdictions. The funds can be used to maintain or increase jobs within the community through improvements including waste and infrastructure, Allison said.

Another item discussed at the meeting was the overcrowding of the Grant County Jail in Ephrata.

Tuesday night a spree of tagging, the spraying of graffiti to claim territory, occurred in Warden, Capetillo said.

When youth perpetrators are caught, they go to the county jail in Ephrata, only to receive a "slap on the hand" or to be released due to lack of room, he said.

"We're trying to fix the problem, and yet it's bouncing back on us," he said.

Commissioner Richard Stevens said the county facilities committee and a citizens committee are going to come together to examine upgrade needs in the county.

"The jail's certainly going to be part of it," Stevens said.

Police officer and school board member Rick Martin said the county's juvenile prosecutor is working alone against three county defense attorneys.

When they take the case to court, the prosecutor must decide whether the case it worth pursuing, Martin said.

Martin said a solution could be to issue civil infractions, although he believes in minimal government involvement.

Councilman Todd Kisler added the city's intention is not to get rich from the infractions, but to solve the crime problem.

The burn ban was another item discussed. The rules, part of the Washington Department of Ecology's Clean Air Act, impact several smaller cities along with their Urban Growth Areas in Grant County. Those cities are Coulee City, Coulee Dam, Electric City, Ephrata, George, Grand Coulee, Hartline, Krupp, Mattawa, Quincy, Royal City, Soap Lake, Warden and Wilson Creek. Othello in Adams County is included in the ban.

In 2001, residential fires were banned from larger cities in the state, including Moses Lake.

Kisler said the fire chief was responding to fire complaints.

"You've got to take it serious because what if it's somebody's house burning?" he asked.

He said he does not understand the ban, as people are still allowed to burn camp fires.