By Shawn Skager

The Courier-Herald

Buckley's $12 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade could get a financial boost from the state Legislature this year with a proposed $3.9 million contribution from Rainier School, via the Washington State Department of Social Health Services (DSHS).

According to 31st District Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, the state's 2006 supplemental capital construction budget, unveiled Feb. 15, will provide $3.9 million for the Rainier School's contribution to the upgrade.

&#8220Rainier School is a state-owned facility, so it is up to the state to maintain it,” Roach said in a press release last week. The fact that it hasn't has put the city of Buckley in danger of violating the effluent standards that have been imposed by the Department of Ecology (DOE) for the White River.”

In 2003, the DOE issued Buckley a permit for sewer that met new standards set by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. The city of Buckley is on the hook to comply with the new water quality standards by 2007.

The upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant is currently under way and expected to be completed this year.

According to Buckley Mayor Pat Johnson, the contribution to the upgrade is welcome and will help economically, but is not crucial.

&#8220It is and it isn't (crucial),” Johnson said. &#8220We would like to be able to design the plant to accommodate the school. It's more economical to design it now. We don't want them to decide to be in it a year from now.

&#8220With Rainier putting their money up front we can move forward and there won't be as much out of pocket for Buckley ratepayers.”

Johnson said the plant is being designed so it can be expanded should the need arise.

&#8220I want a plant with a 20-year capacity,” she said. &#8220We don't want to revisit it in five or ten years and have to do it all over again.”

Currently Rainier School maintains its own plant which is more than 40 years old, according to Bob Hubenthal of the DSHS Lands and Buildings Division.

Hubenthal said it's a better option for Rainier School, Buckley's largest employer, to chip in with the Buckley upgrade for many reasons.

&#8220It's a much cheaper option for us to help than to build additional capacity in Buckley,” he said. &#8220From strictly a cost standpoint, rather then revamp or build a new one here, it's more efficient to let Buckley build theirs and contribute.”

Hubenthal also said it made sense from a time standpoint. Buckley is ready to go with the upgrade now. A new or upgraded plant at Rainier School could take years to design and build, he said.

&#8220Environmentally it also makes more sense,” he added. &#8220Instead of Buckley and Rainier School both discharging waste, it would just be the one plant.

&#8220Lastly it gets us out of the wastewater treatment plant business and lets us concentrate on what we should be, and that's taking care of our clients at Rainier School,” Hubenthal said.

Currently the House and Senate's capital construction budgets contain money for the Rainier School contribution. The Senate budget was passed Friday.

Now the House will mull it over and vote in the upcoming weeks.

It is in the House that opposition to the Rainier School funding will come from, Roach noted in her press release.

According to Roach, Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, chair of the House Capital Budget Committee may be an impediment to including the Rainier School funds in the budget.

According to Johnson she has been unable to contact Dunshee to discuss the issue.

&#8220Hans Dunshee is one of the most powerful representatives in the state, and he won't return our calls,” Johnson said.

&#8220Rainier School's share is 24 percent of the plant,” she added. &#8220If they wait the amount they have to pay will probably double. As taxpayers would should all be up in arms.”

Johnson said the city has been close to receiving money from the state for the sewer plant before.

&#8220It looked good until the 11th hour last year,” she said. &#8220I'm not going to believe it until it's on the governor's desk for a signature.”

Dunshee did not return phone calls requesting an interview for this story.

Shawn Skager can be reached at sskager@courierherald.com.