The Washington State Public Works Board approved $7.45 million in grants and loans for emergency infrastructure repairs in Chelan, Franklin, Grays Harbor, King, Lewis, Spokane and Walla Walla counties. The funds will support the restoration of public facilities, roads, sewer systems and bridges damaged by fires and extensive flooding. Board Chair Vince McGowan said public infrastructure is the foundation of every community and that rapid assistance should speed recovery.
In Spokane, a $1 million loan will go toward repairing the Northside Landfill, where the Old Trails fire damaged the electrical system and about three-quarters of the vegetation cover. Connell will receive a $612,000 loan and a $108,000 grant to restore its wastewater treatment facility, while Waitsburg will receive a $255,000 loan and a $45,000 grant to replace a failed sewer pipe essential to the city’s entire system.
Another $5.45 million will go to four communities affected by a powerful atmospheric river in December. Kent and Hoquiam will each receive $2 million to repair flooded sections of roads; Chelan County will receive $750,000 to restore a 120-meter section of Company Creek Road destroyed by the Stehekin River; and Chehalis will receive $700,000 to repair and reopen the Exhibitor Avenue bridge, which was closed because of safety concerns. The funds for the eastern counties came from the board’s emergency reserve, while aid for the communities affected by flooding came from a $10 million special appropriation by the state Legislature.
Based on: WA doles out millions of dollars for flood- and fire-related repairs