Cd'A mulls wastewater rates

COEUR d'ALENE - Paying for improvements.

Or at least, determining if raising rates will be required to pony up for wastewater treatment plant upgrades.

The city of Coeur d'Alene is considering contracting with HDR Engineering, Inc., for $135,338 to study wastewater rates and new customer cap fees for the next 10 years to help identify how the city will pay for upgrades to its wastewater plant.

The plant is in its fifth phase of improvements now. It could have to upgrade again in the coming years to adjust to a high advanced treatment system regarding phosphorus level discharges on the Spokane River as required by federal law.

"If we're going to be mandated to do this stuff we need to know how we're going to pay for it and how much it's going to cost," said Sid Fredrickson, wastewater superintendent.

The last study on rates was done in 2002. It implemented a stepped increase over five years from $20.36 for a single family home to $24.43 through 2007.

"I don't think they're going to go down," Fredrickson said of future rates.

HDR assisted the city with planning and design of phase four and five of the wastewater project.

The City Council will consider the request for the contract at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Community Room of the Coeur d'Alene Public Library.