| |
Local municipalities to
receive state support for important local projects
Two Whatcom County
municipalities would receive around $5.7 million in state assistance for
vital water projects under a measure that passed the Washington State
House of Representatives today.
House Bill 2337 appropriates $2.3 million to Birch Bay Water and Sewer
District for a sanitary sewer project, and $3.4 million to Bellingham
for a domestic water project that would remove an aging diversion dam
and replace its function with a withdrawal structure.
The two projects were part of the 2006 Public Works Trust Fund project
list that now must be approved by the state Senate and governor before
becoming law.
“I’m happy Birch Bay and Bellingham will be receiving help from the
state on these important projects,” said
Rep. Doug Ericksen. “A lot of people have
worked long and hard at the local level to make these projects possible,
and we appreciate their efforts. Without their support, 42nd District
legislators would not have been able to advocate as strongly to bring
money back to the district.”
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 Bellingham project is important because it restores runs of two
endangered species to the upper reaches of the middle fork of the
Nooksack River,” said Ericksen. “The Birch Bay project is vital because
it would result in a 26 percent increase in sanitary sewer conveyance
capacity.”
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.
“Sometimes important public works projects remain in the planning phase
because the funding just isn’t there,” said Ericksen. “I’m pleased we
were able to acquire state help for these projects, and I thank my
seatmates for their teamwork on behalf of the district.”
The legislative session began on January 9 and is scheduled to run 60
days.
# # #
For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
|
|