Odessa public works projects to continue

Steve Nelson of CenturyWest Engineering of Spokane was in Odessa March 10 to present an overview of projects his firm has been working on since becoming the town’s engineering firm. A small crowd of citizens attended the informational meeting. Story-boards were displayed showing work accomplished, planned or under contemplation.

Projects that have been completed to date include the construction of First Street sidewalks (repairing sidewalks and filling in sidewalks on pathways that school children use to go to and from school) using a $150,00 Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) grant; $715,000 worth of downtown water system improvements using a Dept. of Health/Community Development Block Grant (CDBG); Phase I roadway repairs worth $400,000 paid through FEMA/TIB grant and Phase II roadway repairs and CDBG water lines worth $750,000 in grants from FEMA, TIB and CDBG.

Planning for the following has also been completed: a water plan amendment paid for by the Town of Odessa ($2,500), East Third Ave. right of way plan paid with a grant from Quadco ($28,000), a pavement management plan, grant from Quadco ($29,000), a sewer plan, Ecology/CDBG grant ($75,000), misc. FEMA grants for community center roof repair, grave settling at cemetery and a side-by-side vehicle worth $10,000 donated to the Odessa Fire Dept. by BNSF.

Planned projects include street and water improvements worth $2.5-$3.5 million to be funded by EDA/USDA/CDBG/FEMA/TIB, slated for 2020 or 2021 pending EDA approval and bid results and sewer system improvements (lift station and drying bed area at water treatment plant) funded by Ecology with CDBG covering the matching funds. Design will take place in 2020/2021 and construction in 2021/2022.

Potential projects also include a realignment of E. Third Ave., with new signs, etc., and will depend upon acceptance of an application submitted to the TIB in 2022-2023; GIS mapping depending on an application for a CDBG in 2021; renovation assistance for Old Town Hall depending on potential funding/priorities and lastly support for the Odessa pool and Reiman Park depending upon availability of funding from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.