Rosalia planning to apply for state block grants

Rosalia Town Council conducted its first public hearing for a Community Development Block Grant Feb. 11 and had a second one scheduled Tuesday evening.

Mayor Nan Konishi said although not many people came to the hearing, there were many good ideas.

Layne Merritt of JUB Engineering in Spokane is assisting the town as it applies for grants. The grants are distributed by the state Department of Commerce.

He said the town is applying for two grants, one $25,000 grant for a wastewater facilities plan that would evaluate alternatives and costs for future improvement, and a second grant, $300,000 to $400,000, under a general purpose program for water treatment plant improvements.

Merritt said the deadline for grant applications are in June and the grant awards will be announced in September.

Konishi said discussion also included economic development and how to attract new businesses and construct new buildings.

As discussion progressed, they talked about looking at other systems for water treatment.

“Other options are out there,” she said, adding that a mechanical plant is more costly than a lagoon system.

Konishi also said the town will be doing its own recycling, separate from the county.

“Single stream recycling just wasn’t working for us,” she said.

The town is receiving recycling bins sponsored through Coca-Cola Public Space Bin Grants and the bins will be placed in open, public areas for easy access, she said.