Tenino residents deserve to know price on sewer bill

By Jamie Kenny | For The Olympian • Published October 15, 2008

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Tenino is getting a sewer system that will bring change to every inhabitant. For anyone looking forward to change, this could be an exciting time.

The idea of sewers in Tenino started in the 1920s but was declined by voters over the decades. Realizing a very expensive project might never get started if left to the citizens, the Tenino City Council created an ordinance to allow it to approve the project without voters' approval. Maybe this is one reason people are frustrated and don't think their concerns are taken seriously by the city.

I am not against growth. I have seen the future plans for Grand Mound, made possible by its sewer system, and I look forward to similar opportunities that growth can bring here in Tenino. But as I have learned more about our project, I seem to have more questions than answers.

Conversations with my neighbors tell me I'm not alone. Our biggest question is, "How much is this really going to cost us?"

People have requested copies of the budget, but have received nothing. Sewer workshops have been staffed by people who can't answer specific questions such as, "What will our monthly bill be?" Nobody can tell us how much we will be paying every month for water and sewer.

According to a USDA report, the overall project will be nearly $17 million. Based on my research, the city will receive $9 million in grants. That leaves $8 million for approximately 700 households to share in loans for monthly repayment. Our water rates are currently $45 each month and we expect another change in January.

Will our total monthly charge for water and sewer be $140, $160, or even $180 when the project is complete in two years?

The city just needs to talk to people reasonably and honestly.

The sewer connection fee of $3,500 is due by June 1, 2009. I have talked to some folks who are seriously stressing out on how to pay this bill. The good news for people who are low- to moderate- income is they can apply for a grant to cover this cost.

Although the application for the Community Development Block Grant isn't ready yet, residents need to diligently check with the city of Tenino for its availability. This grant allows a family of four to earn $53,050 annually and doesn't need to be repaid. The money will be awarded on a first come, first served basis, so keep inquiring at the city if you qualify.

I'm really trying to be positive and I'm finally over thinking this is a bridge to nowhere. Someday we might contaminate our drinking water so this is a real concern. It's just that Wall Street's not the only place where there is suffering. People on my street are having a really tough time, and there's nobody to bail us out.

During a recent council meeting, I remembered that change doesn't come from government; change doesn't come from someone else's actions; change comes when I see things differently. I am beginning to see Tenino as a sustainable community and hope our concerns can bring answers to our questions while bringing us closer as a community.

Jamie Kenny, a member of The Olympian's Board of Contributors, lives in Tenino with her husband and two teenage children. She can be reached at kpraise2him@scattercreek.com.