Medical Lake wastewater treatment facility receives DOE award

The Medical Lake City Council saw two presentations at its Oct. 21 meeting.

The first was the Washington state Department of Ecology (DOE) presenting the city’s Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Facility with the “2013 Outstanding Wastewater Treatment Plant” award for the fourth-consecutive year. The DOE gives this award to facilities that achieve 100 percent compliance with regulations imposed by the discharge permit. The Medical Lake facility was 126 out of 305 plants to win the award in 2013.

Michael Hepp, DOE compliance specialist, recognized the hard work from the city and the facility’s operators.

“It’s a group effort between the workers, the City Council, the mayor and everybody providing funding,” Hepp said. “I’ve worked with towns where operators are spending nights at their plants to keep it running. They only have a little bit of support.”

City Administrator Doug Ross congratulated the operators of the plant for their hard work.

“I’m just a signature, I have nothing to do with it (the operations),” Ross said. “It is Steve Cooper and the guys that take care of everything.”

Mayor John Higgins said the city does not have to worry about what happens at the plant because the operators do a “great job.”

Also, the Medical Lake Library gave a presentation of its current usage trend. Librarian Christine Onzey said the library has 2,790 cardholders and 67,629 visitors.

Onzey explained that the library continues to offer story time every Wednesday. The library also brings story time to local preschools and daycares on a quarterly basis.

“Hallett Elementary just started an ECEAP (Early Child Education and Assistance Program) preschool and we will be adding them to the schedule,” Onzey said.

Onzey said the library offers different programs, including an after-school Explore and Discover club. She added that the library will continue to help job seekers, support local businesses and connect with the community.

Onzey announced the library received a $6,000 grant from Washington Rural Heritage. She said the organization will provide the library with equipment to digitize all of its historical photos of Medical Lake.

“Right now we’re going through all of the stuff the Medical Lake Historical Society has,” Onzey said. “Eventually, that’s all going to go on the website and everyone will get a chance to see it.”

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.