Bid Contract Delayed For Sewer-Pump Station

Thu., March 23, 1995

Bruce Krasnow Staff writer

In/Around: Fairwood, Little Spokane River

Spokane County has delayed a bid contract for a sewer-pump station after homeowners along the Little Spokane River behind Fairwood complained that the pumping station would be too close to their homes.

The station is the final leg of a plan to eliminate all homes from the aging lagoon system that has served the Fairwood subdivision.

But several homeowners have been concerned about noise and odor from the proposed pump station at 12721 N. Vistawood Lane and retained attorney Steve Eugster. The nearest home is 150 feet away.

Public Works Director Dennis Scott said the county tried to negotiate with the state Department of Wildlife, which owns the land, for another 50-foot easement in order to move the pump station farther from homes. The county has been unsuccessful, he said.

The sewer leading into the Vistawood station would follow the private road down, then snake back up behind Fairwood and over to an existing pump station near the tennis courts.

The project, which would cost about $1 million, was clustered with two other pump stations needed for a sewer project that would connect the existing system with the Gleneden area. The county was hoping to get a better price by building all three at the same time. On Tuesday, however, commissioners decided to separate the bids and undertake the environmental analysis on the Vistawood project.

Eugster said the clients are trying to negotiate with the state for more land and have been pleased with progress made with the county, which has promised landscaping and measures to control noise and odor.

Mike Dempsey, assistant county attorney, said the county has no choice but to go forward with the environmental analysis to protect itself in the event of a lawsuit. The process will delay construction by at least two months.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.