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Shift sewer line maintenance to residents?

The Coulee Dam City Council Wednesday discussed an idea its insurance company would dearly love to see take effect: shift maintenance of all “lateral” sewer lines to homeowners.

The city spends about $12,000 a year for city employees to unplug lines that go from the city’s mainline to homes, city Superintendent Mike Steffens told the council last Wednesday. Most cities don’t do that, but Coulee Dam doesn’t have a clear demarcation of where its line begins and the homeowner’s ends.

Council members were not keen on the idea. Councilmember Keith St. Jeor, who has had those problems in the past, said the city policy is to not let its trees that line the streets be cut down, and those trees are often the recurring problem.

Councilmember Fred Netzel said the fact the insurance company would like the change is not a good reason to do it.

Mayor Bob Poch questioned whether the city doing maintenance on a private homeowner’s property might be deemed a “gift of public funds.”

The question of whether to pass an ordinance to make the change was tabled and the public works committee was directed to come up with a recommendation in 60 days.

Keller Ferry out of service

The Keller Ferry vessel, M/V Sanpoil, went out of service for hull repairs beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, April 1, and may be out until Sunday, April 7, the state Department of Transportation says.

The M/V Sanpoil was previously removed from service on Friday, Jan. 25, to undergo emergency hull repair while longer-term fixes were developed and coordinated with the U.S. Coast Guard. The scheduled work is for more comprehensive repairs. A temporary fix was provided and approved by the Coast Guard.

Those who are planning trips across the Columbia River on SR-21 should choose an alternate route via state routes 25, 155 and 174.

Before heading out the door, travelers can find highway conditions and service changes for the Keller Ferry on the WSDOT Travel Alerts page, mobile app and Twitter at @WSDOT_East.