LAKEPORT, Calif. – The effort to build a new wastewater system for the community of Anderson Springs took another step forward on Tuesday, with the Board of Supervisors’ unanimous approval of a resolution to pursue a portion of the necessary funds from the state.
Special Districts Administrator Jan Coppinger presented to the board the resolution, which authorizes her to submit a funding agreement to the State Water Resources Control Board in the amount of $7,436,000.
Most of the homes in Anderson Springs were destroyed in the September 2015 Valley fire.
Years before the fire, the county had done a study on building a communitywide wastewater system. Lake County Environmental Health recommended a new system because the septic systems for the homes – many of which originally had been vacation homes that were converted into year-round residences – were not adequate, Coppinger told Lake County News in a 2016 interview.
Beginning in early 2016, the two state legislators who represented Lake County – Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblyman Bill Dodd, who has since moved on to the State Senate – began working to secure funding for the system, which is considered critical to rebuilding the community.
In June, Dodd and McGuire announced that they had secured the millions of dollars in financing needed to move the project forward.
On Tuesday, Coppinger told the board, “This is going to be the first in a series of resolutions I’ll be bringing forward for the construction funding for the Anderson Springs sewer. We have three funding agencies that are all contributing to this project to get it complete.”
In addition to the State Water Resources Control Board, the two other agencies to which Coppinger will be applying for funds are the California Department of Housing and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Her memorandum estimated that $1.5 million for the project will come from the California Department of Housing and Community Development and $983,395 from the United States Department of Agriculture.
She said that, after she submitted her memorandum for the Tuesday board meeting, she participated in conference calls with those three agencies, which resulted in slight changes to the overall estimated costs for the project.
“We’re working out some details. It’s kind of a work in progress,” she said.
Coppinger said the resolution before the board was for the maximum amount from the State Water Resources Control Board.
She said she would be back in a few weeks with a resolution regarding the funding for the Department of Housing and the United States Department of Agriculture, with a few details yet to be worked out.
“It’s a good project,” said Board Chair Jeff Smith.
Coppinger said the updated estimate to complete the project is $10,580,895. The project will consist of running a new collection line 3.5 miles along Highway 175 from Anderson Springs to the Middletown sewer treatment plant, as well as 100 service connections.
Supervisor Rob Brown recognized the days, hours and months of work that Coppinger, her staff and others have put into the effort to get the project to this point.
“Unbelievable,” said Board Chair Jeff Smith in agreement.
“It is unbelievable and it’s unbelievable that we're even at this point that we’re getting it,” said Brown, adding that, under normal circumstances, the county wouldn’t have gotten the money.
Smith recalled the many years county officials have talked about such a project, which he said has finally come about due to the fire.
Brown praised both Coppinger for her work and McGuire for his efforts to carry the project forward.
“And we have a very appreciative community we’re working for. That even makes it easier to work so hard, when they’re so appreciative,” said Coppinger, adding that she’s receiving a lot of positive feedback from the community.
Supervisor Moke Simon offered the resolution, which the board approved 5-0.
Coppinger also received unanimous approval from the board to apply to the State Water Resources Control Board for a $500,000 grant for planning and design of improvements to the County Service Area No. 2, Spring Valley water distribution system.
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Board of Supervisors approves resolution to seek funding for Anderson Springs sewer project
- Elizabeth Larson
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