Completing a generational investment in the Spokane River
Spokane Mayor David Condon will open the conference with reflections on creating and implementing an Integrated Clean Water Plan that provides superior environmental results for the city and river while maintaining affordability for citizens. It’s a generational investment also being made by other municipalities.
The Mayor is looking forward to providing insight into the City’s progress and how the program and its costs fit into Spokane’s future.
For instance, as November approaches, the number of construction projects still being managed by the City of Spokane usually reduces to a trickle. Construction season for municipalities, after all, centers around the reconstruction and repair of streets. That kind of work happens from April to October; the cold, snow, and ice don’t mix with paving.
This year, things are different. Excavation and construction on underground, concrete storage tanks potentially can continue all year long, depending on the amount of snow that falls. So that means, work will proceed on six massive tank projects that are part of a system that will manage overflows from combined wastewater and stormwater sewers into the Spokane River.
The tanks that are under construction are part of the City’s final big push to complete a generational investment in improved water quality in the river by the City. In all, some $340 million in projects will vastly improve nutrient loading in the river, remove metals, and reduce toxins like PCBs going into our beloved river.
The work represents a $1,600 per capita investment in a community with a median household income far below the state and national averages, and it required the sale of $200 million in revenue bonds that won’t be paid off for nearly another 20 years.
Running a city always requires balance. Citizens expect a suite of critical services and projects for a price that they can afford. They really are seeking value for their dollars. It’s a general investment that sets the stage for two days of conference sessions and networking.