Warden passes water system plan and parks and recreation developments

WARDEN — The Warden City Council convened Jan. 14 to discuss significant developments concerning the city’s water system and its Parks and Recreation Open Space Plan. The meeting featured staff reports detailing ongoing projects and strategic planning for community enhancement, alongside formal resolutions for the future direction of local infrastructure and recreational facilities. 

Water system plan  

A significant agenda item was the presentation of the Water System Plan by consultants from Gray & Osborne. Jamin Ankney and Justin Wies provided the council with an overview of the plan, initially presented to the council in February 2022. Ankney emphasized the importance of adopting the updated plan.   

“This plan will guide our water system projections and enhance overall service delivery over the next 10 to 20 years,” Wies said.  

The consultants reported that after numerous revisions with the Department of Health, the plan had received the necessary approvals for adoption. The data analysis revealed that the city’s four wells, booster station and reservoirs are operating efficiently, and while the findings indicate the current capacity meets projected demand, vigilance is required for long-term maintenance.  

“Your water system plan puts you in a good position,” Ankney said. “However, monitoring and periodic assessments are essential, as aging infrastructure will demand attention.” 

The two told the council there will not be any deficiencies in the coming 10 years for water sources, rights or storage. Ankney did warn that water storage and the water management system will probably need upgrades at the 10-year mark.  

The two consultants also detailed some of the necessary improvements, including operational maintenance and condition assessments of existing infrastructure. The deficiencies listed during the presentation included the opportunity for normal inspection, cleaning and rehabilitation as needed, they said. It was also discussed that well 6 has two aquifers – which the city tried to address previously with no avail. Soon, the coatings on both reservoirs one and two will need replacing. There is a need for more site security at the reservoirs and the booster pump station is nearing the end of its useful life. Finally, the computers will be dated soon and will need replacing.  

“The goal is not only to meet any increases in demand but also to ensure that our assets are maintained and functioning well,” Wies said. 

Weis also said the plan includes an option to conduct a soil fumigant ethylene dibromide investigation and implement a treatment plan if necessary. The city hasn’t tested positive for EDB in several years; however, in case tests return positive the city wanted the option to treat it without adjusting the water system plan.  

Following the presentation, the council unanimously approved Resolution 01-2025, adopting the Water System Plan. 

Parks and rec

The council then turned its focus to the Parks and Recreation Open Space Plan, presented as a collaborative effort with SCJ Alliance. This plan, which summarizes public engagement and outlines future park improvements, was well-received according to the council. 

“We’re excited about the potential developments highlighted in the plan,” said City Administrator Kriss Schuler. “The community’s feedback has been essential in shaping our parks to meet their needs.” 

The plan proposes several enhancements, including improved facilities at existing parks and the goal of creating a new swimming pool – which is not a finalized plan but something Schuler said community members have been requesting. While this project is anticipated to be costly, but funded mostly by grants, it will expand the park and open spaces Warden has to offer.  

“We took the existing plan that we had that was very old, and we assessed the open space. We had three different public engagement pieces,” Schuler said.  

The city plans to utilize the Parks and Recreation Open Space Plan as a stepping stone for applying to recreation funding through the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. 

The council adopted Resolution 02-2025 unanimously to formalize the plan’s objectives and ensure the availability of increased funding opportunities.  

“This is a crucial step in enhancing our community’s recreational offerings,” Mayor Pro Tem Emily Campos said.  

Staff reports  

During the meeting, various department heads provided updates on ongoing initiatives. Police Chief Rick Martin addressed the recent transition from Spillman to 365 Labs for the city’s computer-aided dispatch system. The Warden Police Department used Spillman for 26 years, so Martin said the transition is taking time.  

“This transition has certainly had its challenges, but we’re steadily working through them,” Martin said. “One of our team members from 365 Labs spent several hours with us to sort out the kinks, and we appreciate the community's patience during this timeframe.” 

Crime levels in the city remained stable, with Martin reporting "a lot of house checks" being maintained, contributing to overall community safety. 

Public Works Supervisor Chad Cole also reported on several projects, including the switch from yield signs around the Warden City Park to stop signs. He also highlighted various road improvements and ongoing developments for the new lift station on West Sixth Street.