Benton City
Benton City, WA · Municipal
tricitiesbusinessnews.com
Plans underway for new apartments, subdivisions, roadwork
Documents filed under Washington’s environmental review process reveal a list of projects in the works for the Mid-Columbia. The State Environmental Policy Act, or SEPA, often provides the first look at the mixed-use projects, mini-storage facilities, apartments, industrial expansions, subdivisions and more that are working their way through the various planning departments of Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla counties.
Apple Valley News Now
Columbia Insight
tricitiesbusinessnews.com
New 32-bed mental health facility to open in Kennewick
An inpatient mental health treatment facility in Kennewick that has sat dormant since being built five years ago is finally opening its doors. Aristo Healthcare confirmed to the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business that it will open its New Hopes Kennewick facility at 7319 W. Hood Place on Nov. 17. The 32-bed facility is expected to have between 30 to 35 staff members. Aristo is currently hiring to staff up the clinic.
Tri-City Herald
Tri-City Herald
tricitiesbusinessnews.com
DNR to auction land near Richland Costco
The state Department of Natural Resources is auctioning off two lots of land near the new Costco in Richland in mid-November. The two properties are both undeveloped and located in the Queensgate area of Richland. Lot 7A is a 21-acre lot just north of Costco that’s zoned for high-density residential use, while Lot 6A is just over 12 acres in an L-shape to the west of Lot 7A that’s zoned for medium-density residential uses.
nbcrightnow.com
tricitiesbusinessnews.com
Kennewick VA clinic aims for early 2029 opening
Before gold-painted shovels ceremoniously dug into a prepared mound of dirt at the site of the future Kennewick VA Clinic, Ryan Peta made a vow. “I have a responsibility that we build the best clinic with the best providers,” the interim director of the Jonathan M. Wainright VA Medical Center in Walla Walla told a crowd of veterans, local and state officials and community members on Nov. 5. “I promise you we will give you 100% of what you deserve.”
Tri-City Herald
Pasco considers property tax increase as $12M budget gap risks police and fire jobs
Pasco City Counci l showed a clear preference Monday night for a property tax increase to help stave off some of the deep budget cuts originally planned for police, firefighters, and a variety of youth and senior programs. A 39.5-cent increase to the city’s levy could raise more than $5.4 million in new revenues for the struggling city . Pasco’s 2026 general levy rate was about $1.14 per each $1,000 of assessed value. The cost increase on a home valued at $500,000 could be about $198 a year. A final decision on pursuing the levy lid lift has yet to be made, and would need to be formally adopted at a future city council meeting. A majority of the council agreed Monday to give staff direction to begin planning the 2027-28 budget with the tax increase in mind. Voters will also need to approve it first, and it wouldn’t go into effect until 2028 if passed. The city is aiming for the Feb. 9 special election ballot to pass the levy lid lift. Pasco would use a combination of program cuts, reserves and interfund loans to cover the gap in 2027. If it fails, Pasco would likely immediately cut police
westrichland.org
nbcrightnow.com
Pasco declares emergency over water reuse facility concerns
PASCO, Wash. — Pasco declared an emergency over problems at its process water reuse facility after city leaders raised concerns about how part of the system was performing. Public Works Director Maria Serra reported at a meeting last week that a system used to remove nitrogen from wastewater was not meeting its performance criteria. City officials said that raised concerns about possible groundwater contamination and compliance with the Department of Ecology discharge permit. Serra explained the declaration was meant to speed up the city’s response as officials worked on a fix.
tricitiesbusinessnews.com
Hanford starts work on $400M tank waste treatment system
Workers recently broke ground on a new $400 million facility aimed at getting even more hazardous tank waste pre-treated prior to long-term storage and disposal either through vitrification or grouting. The new Advanced Modular Pretreatment System, or AMPS, will be able to pretreat up to 3.6 million gallons of tank...