Brewster emerges as a water project super star

BREWSTER – When to comes to public works and specifically city water projects the City of Brewster is something of a super star in terms of both finding the funding to get them done and getting them on the planning board far ahead of schedule.

Since the city began work on its water infrastructure following the 2014 Carlton Complex wildfire the progress has been nothing short of remarkable eight years later. The wildfire set the city on a course to dramatically upgrade and expand its water infrastructure without subjecting its ratepayers to an onerous financial burden.

For a city with less than 2,400 residents (2018 census) and very limited funding resources, that is a tall order. Spearheaded by mayor Art Smyth, clerk/treasurer Misty Ruiz, and public works director Lee Webster the city turned to state and federal agencies and embarked on an ambitious and persistent campaign to find the funds they needed.

“The citizens of Brewster cannot afford the improvements, said Ruiz, “so we take advantage of the opportunities out there to get it done.”

Through a combination of diligent planning aided by professional consultants and exhaustive research was born a savvy and informed approach that has secured millions of dollars in grants and loans at a minimal cost to ratepayers.

An initial project started in late 2014 to rehabilitate and increase the reservoir capacity was financed through $3.48 million in Community Development Block Grant and Department of Ecology money that only required ratepayers to kick in 10.9 percent, or $380,000.

Another project replaced four miles of waterline, added several hundred new services, a new well - called the Lower Reservoir well or “Art’s Well” after Mayor’s suggestion to look for water there – and a new wellhouse.

“That project has reached more than $10 million and is also done,” Webster said.

Asked to select a personal favorite from the recent work Webster said: “I love them all. We do these to save ratepayers money and, in some cases, get ten-fold results.”

The city has now gained a reputation for coming up with solid, data-driven projects and seeing them to completion. Fast forward eight years and Brewster has completed its mandatory 20-year water comp plan in just five years – an unheard-of turnaround by its municipal peers - and has the following projects in the pipeline funded by more than $15.5 million in grants, appropriations, and loans. At the June city council meeting Ruiz unveiled a project list that itemizes a preliminary look at what is ahead through 2024:

• Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements - $7.5 million from Department of Ecology (DOE) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

• Sewer work - $2.5 million state appropriation.

• New Canyon well house - $1.8 million from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD).

• Sewer mainline rehab/replacement - $2 million pending from DOE.

• Manhole work at Canyon well house - $465,000 state appropriation.

• Clean waterlines/update GIS (Geographic Information System) - $400,000 USDA-RD.

• Vehicle storage facility - $1 million partial state appropriation.

Between now and 2024 the above will be in various states of design, bidding, or construction and while many details are still in the preliminary stages, the funding is secured.

Now that the team of mayor-clerk/treasurer-public works director has the existing 20-year water comp plan in the rear view mirror the city must begin work on the next 20-year plan to include projects yet to be identified. Toward that end the city will be explore funding options to find $250,000 to pay for that planning phase.

“It’s never fun to have to pay consultants to do these plans,” said Ruiz, “but when you consider the millions of dollars the city has received because of them, they just pay in dividends.”