|
House approves loans for
public works projects benefiting East King County communities
The House of
Representatives today passed a measure that would authorize low-interest
or interest-free state loans for four important public works projects
that will benefit residents from Kirkland through Sammamish to
Carnation.
The city of Carnation
would receive $4.37 million, the largest of the four loans, under House
Bill 1049, which approves the 2005 list of local government
infrastructure projects funded under the Public Works Trust Fund
program. The Northeast Sammamish Water/Sewer District is in line for a
$4.15 million loan, and two projects in the Northshore Utility District
would receive loans totaling nearly $928,000.
For Bill Brandon,
Carnation city manager, the House bill identifies another piece of the
funding puzzle for the sewer system and wastewater treatment plant his
community needs.
“Carnation is a very small
community which is entirely on septic systems. Our sewer-wastewater
treatment project is crucial for two reasons: to overcome health issues
related to failing septics, and to boost economic development, because
businesses like restaurants can’t locate here without a sewer system.
“For a town of our size to
build a sewer system and wastewater plant costing $21.7 million – well,
we need all the help we can get to keep costs down for our citizens. So
this is good news,” Brandon said.
“This is the second year
Carnation’s project has made the funding list, and it’s a great example
of the benefits possible through the Public Works Trust Fund program,”
said Rep. Toby Nixon, R-Kirkland, whose 45th Legislative District
includes Carnation.
“I always prefer to funnel
resources to the local government entities that can use them most
efficiently, and in the case of both Carnation and the Northshore
Utility District, this funding will help address public health
situations rooted in the past while helping prepare for the growth that
is coming,” said Nixon.
Representatives Jay Rodne
and Glenn Anderson, who serve the 5th Legislative District, are glad to
see the funding list includes a key project for the Northeast Sammamish
Sewer & Water District, which includes part of their legislative
district and part of Nixon’s.
The NESSWD would receive a
loan of $4,154,970 to construct a new water treatment plant,
half-million gallon reservoir and pump station, transmission water main,
and distribution main.
“The improvements will
ensure federal arsenic level regulations are met and that there is a
safe source of potable water for the associated communities. It will be
nice to see this project come to fruition,” said Rodne, R-Snoqualmie.
“This important state
investment will help with planning for and meeting the long term water
demands of our Sammamish community,” added Anderson, R-Fall City. “A lot
of people have worked long and hard at the local level to make this
project possible. We appreciate their efforts.”
In all, HB 1049 covers 64
projects totaling $155 million. The 64 authorized projects fall into
five categories: (1) Twenty-eight domestic water projects totaling $43.8
million; (2) Twenty-seven sanitary sewer projects totaling $85.5
million; (3) Five storm sewer projects totaling $9.3 million; (4) Three
road projects totaling $13.8 million; and (5) One solid waste project
totaling $2.6 million. House Bill 1049 now goes before the Senate for
approval.
The Legislature created
the Public Works Trust Fund in 1985 to help local governments and
special purpose districts get loan funds to build infrastructure
projects. The Public Works Board, housed within the Department of
Community, Trade and Economic Development, makes low-interest or
interest-free loans to finance the repair, replacement or improvement of
a variety of public works projects, including bridges, roads, water and
sewage systems, and solid waste and recycling facilities.
The Public Works
Assistance Account receives dedicated revenue from utility and sales
taxes on water, sewer service, and garbage collection; a portion of the
real estate excise tax; and loan repayments.
Carnation: $4,374,700
Combined with other sources of funding, including a $5.6 million Public
Works Trust Fund loan from 2004, this $14.5 million project will
eliminate the current septic tank/drainfield systems and replace them
with a centralized sewer collection system that will connect directly to
King County's new treatment facility.
Northeast Sammamish Sewer & Water District: $4,154,970
The NESSWD provides water service to more than 3,000 customer accounts
and sewer service to approximately 4,500 customer accounts. This loan
will help the district meet federal arsenic level regulations and ensure
a safe source of potable water by building a new water treatment plant,
a half-million gallon reservoir and pump station, new water mains and
other improvements.
Northshore Utility District: two projects, $814,634 and $113,334
Northshore Utility District is a special purpose water and sewer utility
at the northeast end of Lake Washington. It encompasses more than 11,000
acres in parts of Kenmore, Bothell, Juanita, Totem Lake, Kingsgate, Finn
Hill, and Kirkland and serves more than 60,000 people. These projects
will resolve the problem of many failing septic systems in the area
through connection to the sewer system via nearly 3,000 feet of new
gravity sewer main, manholes, and replacement of nearly 3,000 feet of
asbestos concrete water mains.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public
Information Officer - (360) 786-7252
|