The Washington City Council approved spending more of their allocated American Rescue Plan Act dollars for water and sewer related improvements.

The city is receiving $1,077,441 in ARPA funds for pandemic rescue and recovery. Eligible uses include COVID-19 expenditures or negative economic impacts of COVID-19, such as assistance to small businesses, households, hard-hit industries, and economic recovery; premium pay for essential workers; and investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure. In July, the council approved to use about $540,000 of the funds to replace the water main along West Madison from Avenue H to the Highway 1 and 92 junction, and this September they approved spending $125,000 to bore a new sewer for a proposed residential subdivision near the Washington Golf and Country Club.

At Tuesday’s council meeting Wastewater Superintendent Jason Whisler requested they use about $90,000 to replace the Parkside lift station which was installed 40 years ago and was said to have a 20-year life expectancy. This replacement is in the city’s capital improvement plan to occur in 2026 or later with an estimated price of $200,000. Whisler said the current lift station will likely need major repairs in the next five years if not replaced. Council Member Danielle Pettit-Majewski said that she approves of the project, though she reiterated a desire to discuss what creative ways they can spend the rest of the ARPA funds to meet the needs of residents. Mayor Jaron Rosien mentioned that infrastructure is low-hanging fruit to address, “One positive that I did take from it is our CIP has 200 thousand dollars for this and this uses 90 [thousand dollars], and that kind of clears up that 200 thousand dollars in that time that council can then pivot with more flexibility to use however is fit.”

The council approved unanimously to replace the lift station that serves Parkside Estates, Green Meadows, and up Highway 1 north to the Kewash Nature Trail. Whisler anticipates work to be completed in the spring. The council also directed to keep ARPA funds as a workshop agenda item for the next meeting to allow other city employees or residents to share other proposals for the funds. Cities have until December 31, 2024 to obligate funds.