Logo courtesy of the City of Gridley

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – The Gridley City Council approved the $125,000 purchase of a former Butte County Public Works property to secure a site for a future sewer lift station as the city plans for growth and the eventual replacement of aging infrastructure.

The council approved the acquisition of the 0.20-acre property at 860 Cedar St. from Butte County on Aug. 17, along with the transfer and supplemental appropriation needed to complete the purchase. The city will also pay customary closing and transaction costs.

The property sits adjacent to the city's existing Public Works operations and contains an older industrial warehouse and office space. Butte County previously used the site as a Public Works yard. The county first approached Gridley about a potential sale in early 2025.

City Administrator Elisa Arteaga said the purchase would give the city control of the site now while providing options for future sewer improvements.

"It is located strategically in an area where we anticipate continued growth and development and will require additional sewer collection," Arteaga said.

An independent appraisal by Evans Appraisal Service placed the property's as-is market value at $125,000 as of Feb. 3. The appraisal identified the property as an industrial warehouse parcel with a Public General Plan designation and Public and Quasi-Public zoning.

Before recommending the purchase, Arteaga and Public Works Director Jerry Cox reviewed records concerning the property's previous use, including potential underground storage tanks and hazardous materials. The city's review found no known underground storage tank or hazardous-material issue that would prevent the acquisition.

Cox said the city's existing lift station dates to the 1970s or 1980s and is beginning to show its age. Although pumps and some electronics have been updated, he said deterioration of the wet well and other components will eventually require substantial work.

"It'd be an ideal spot for a state-of-the-art new lift station," Cox said. "All new electronics, automatic bar screen cleaners. It'd be a great asset."

The new facility would eventually replace the existing lift station rather than supplement it. Cox said the city could construct the replacement over time without shutting down the current system while the work is underway.

Until the city is ready to move forward with the sewer project, the existing warehouse could provide temporary equipment storage.

The $125,000 acquisition will be funded through the sewer system, with an interfund transfer from the Sewer Reserve Fund to the Sewer Operating Fund. Future sewer improvements could be supported by impact fees or other funding sources as the project develops, officials said.