McMorris Rodgers seeks funding for College Place

By Terry Murry on Wednesday, June 9th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

COLLEGE PLACE – The city of College Place is seeking federal funding to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant. City Administrator Mike Rizzitiello said U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Spokane) has requested $15 million for the plant’s upgrade in the upcoming Federal Infrastructure Bill which is working its way through Congress.

The funding would be used to increase wastewater storage capacity and prevent non-compliant discharge to Garrison Creek which Rizzitiello said is a mandated endeavor from the Washington State Department of Ecology.

“The total price tag is $20.9 million,” Rizzitiello said. “I would expect we would know if we got the funding by the end of the summer.”

McMorris Rodgers’ request for the city of College Place is one of 10 community project funding submissions she made for Washington’s Fifth Congressional District, the district which she represents.

“I am very thankful that Rep. McMorris Rodgers sees the predicament the city is in with these unfunded mandates coming down from the state and is doing her best to help with the situation,” Rizzitiello added. “The city does not have the funds alone to deal with these unfunded mandates coming down from the Washington State Department of Ecology.”

According to Rizzitiello, the first phase of the wastewater treatment plant upgrades must be completed by December 2023.