Deb Purvis, representing the Cooke City/Silver Gate County Water and Sewer District, told the subcommittee that the unincorporated community of Cooke City (about 63 year‑round residents) receives more than 200,000 visitors during summer months and has no public wastewater treatment system. Purvis quoted the Park County sanitarian that failed on‑site septic systems have created a public‑health hazard.

Cooke City has pursued a phased approach. Purvis told the panel that phase 1 (collection system) is scheduled to be completed this year; the MSAP grant under HB 11 is sought for phase 3 to acquire Forest Service land for a drain field, construct a treatment system and build a force main. She said the community has assembled a funding package that includes an MCEP request of $750,000, $500,000 in RD grant funding, $640,000 in SRF loan forgiveness and a large Economic Development Administration award valued at roughly $7.56 million. Purvis said the project total was estimated at about $14.7 million and that additional WERDA (state) funding — $1.3 million secured and a possible further $3.6 million expected in a future biennium — would help close the gap.

Purvis said the U.S. Forest Service has provided letters of support and is willing to sell or negotiate a permit for the drain field site. She emphasized the seasonal population pressure: a small permanent population, heavy summer visitation and local businesses that rely on a dependable wastewater solution.

Ending: Cooke City urged the committee to preserve the MSAP award because the project is the precondition for other community development efforts, including potential employee housing that requires an operable public sewer system.