Aberdeen in line for $5.6 million loan for wastewater treatment plant
By The Daily World staff, The Aberdeen Daily World , 2/13/2002
Aberdeen's wastewater treatment facility is among 64 projects in the state and the only city on the Twin Harbors that will receive state funding under Public Works Trust Fund legislation approved by the state House of Representatives Monday.
The proposal, submitted by Gov. Gary Locke was endorsed by 29 representatives, including Twin Harbor lawmakers Jim Buck, R - Joyce, Brian Hatfield, D - Raymond and Lynn Kessler, D - Hoquiam.
A companion bill is making its way through the Senate.
The $5.6 million low - interest loan for Aberdeen will be used to upgrade the wastewater treatment facility's biological treatment system and to build an additional clarifier - a large round holding tank that allows solids to settle out - according to Larry Bledsoe, the city's public works director.
"All along we've been saying the city's going to be doing some construction," he said. "This is not new."
Bledsoe said the loan has already been approved by the Publics Works Trust Fund board, it just has to go through the proper channels in the Legislature.
The loan payments are already built into a proposed sewer rate increase currently under consideration by the City Council.
House Bill 2537 provides money through the state Public Works Trust Fund for water, sewer and road improvements throughout the state. Also known as the public works assistance account, the fund was created by the Legislature in 1985 to provide a source of loan funds to assist local governments and special purpose districts with infrastructure projects, according to a news release from Buck's office.
The Public Works Board, within the Department of Community, Trade, & Economic Development, is authorized to make low - interest or interest - free loans from the account to finance the repair, replacement or improvement of roads, bridges, water and sewage systems, and solid waste recycling facilities. All local governments except port districts are eligible to receive loans.
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