Fairgrounds annexation remains an issue

EPHRATA - A resident voiced his concerns about Moses Lake's attempts to get Grant County to connect the fairgrounds to the city's sewer system.

Jon Smith, a Moses Lake resident, spoke to the Grant County commissioners during a recent public comment period about the septic systems installed at the fairgrounds. He recently brought his concerns to the Moses Lake City Council. 

State, city and county officials met about connecting the fairgrounds to the city's sewer system in July. The issue dates back to before the systems were installed in 2008. City officials require the city to annex the fairgrounds to connect to the sewer. 

County officials have voiced concerns about annexation, pointing out the city council could decide to not allow animals at the fairgrounds. 

The city council recently sent the commissioners an interlocal agreement to annex and connect the fairgrounds to the city's sewer system. In exchange, the city promised to pay $250,000 if the city restricted the traditional use of the fairground.

The county wanted to be allowed to take the fairgrounds back under eminent domain if the city passed "any ordinance, rule or regulation that adversely affects the form or function of the fairground," according to the draft.

Before speaking to the council, Smith spoke to Councilmember Karen Liebrecht, the commissioners and Moses Lake City Manager Joe Gavinski, he said. He examined the proposed agreement.

"Any chance of the county agreeing to the terms in the contract draft, dated March 2005, is highly unlikely, making it a moot point to spend any real time discussing annexation," Smith said. "There is no evidence of any pollution leaking from the fairgrounds, let alone any proof of pollution entering the lake from the fairgrounds."

Smith accused city officials of using their relationships with Department of Ecology and Department of Health personnel to create problems for the county.

"The draft agreement makes it sound like a one-time payment of $250,000 to the county by the City of Moses Lake is all that would be required to end traditional uses at the fairground," he said. "It's hard to believe that a simpler agreement can't be reached other than annexation."

Smith pointed out the city already provides water service, asking why the city can't provide sewer service. It's possible to pre-treat the sewage before it leaves the fairgrounds. If it requires additional infrastructure the two entities could share the cost.

"If there is some kind of law blocking such a contract, what is it and why not work to change that law?" he asked. "I wish the county had the money to build an all-new modern fairgrounds facility, with easier access from (Interstate) 90 and (state Route) 17, but I also wish we had a second lake crossing, too. Neither one is likely to happen in my lifetime."

An agreement would benefit everyone, since the issue is about pollution and protecting the environment, Smith said. 

"A contract to tie into the city's sewage system would leave us with only that pesky political pollution to deal with," he said. 

Smith spoke with Liebrecht after the meeting, where she reportedly told him it connected some of the dots about the issue. He is also looking at the city's code to find if the city isn't allowed to enter into a contract like his proposal.

"At the very least, if we find that clause we can work to change that," he said. "At the very least, I want citizens to be involved in the discussion."

Commissioner Cindy Carter thanked Smith for his work on the issue.

Smith also pointed out he never heard about water traveling below the fairgrounds, carrying pollution to the lake. He said presenting the idea of pollution coming from the fairgrounds as a fact is a problem.

Commissioner Richard Stevens said he hadn't heard of it either. The aquifer is about 110 feet below the surface. 

"Some of that has been brought on through the irrigation," he said. "It's an issue that's not going to go away soon ... The county is going to work with the Department of Health to see what we might need. If we need a couple of monitoring wells, we're willing to do that."

The monitoring wells would provide data about if the septic systems are affecting the ground water. 

"There is no data right now," he said. "The general consensus was ... if the pollution is moving, it would be moving in a direction toward the lake, so we shouldn't have to drill wells anywhere else. If we drill wells and don't pick up on anything for a number of years, I guess, then we can suppose it's not moving there. If it is moving there, then we'll have to do something different at that point of time."

Stevens finished by saying the county doesn't want to pollute the lake.