Officials deliver key funding to Nyssa leaders
‘It’s taken 12 years to get it (the project) underway.’
Susan Walker Mayor of Nyssa
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Wednesday, November 21, 2007 11:35 AM PST
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| Nyssa Mayor Susan Walker chats with Congressman Greg Walden, R-Oregon (left) and Mark Simmons, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program (right), Monday in the Nyssa City Council chambers. Walden and Simmons were in Nyssa to present city officials with the funding for the city’s new wastewater lagoon. |
NYSSA - Nyssa city officials were all smiles Monday when they accepted two large checks from U.S. Congressman Greg Walden (R-Oregon) and Mark Simmons, state director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program.
The two checks — one a $1.5 million grant and the second a $4.9 million loan — will help pave the way for the city to begin construction on a new wastewater project, including a new lagoon system.
Both checks came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program.
“It’s taken 12 years to get it (the project) underway,” Nyssa Mayor Susan Walker said during a ceremony in the Nyssa City Council chambers.
She noted some of the challenges rotated around choosing the system that would benefit the city the most, buying enough land, applying for the funding and “making sure the citizens could afford it.”
She gave credit to Myra Hartley, wastewater system supervisor, for keeping Nyssa’s antique system operating.
In her closing remarks, Walker said, the lagoon system is the most expensive way to build for a treatment facility,
“But it is by far the least costly to maintain,” she said.
Walden said he was pleased to be able to deliver the funding personally to Nyssa city officials.
“I’m honored to be a small part of this,” Walden said, commenting that the money was approved in Congress.
Simmons also noted the importance of the new wastewater project.
“Infrastructure is important,” Simmons said.
Simmons said the planned construction will draw new businesses and industry to the community.
“It really is you folks driving the agenda,” he said.
Before meeting with city officials and other interested individuals, Walden and Simmons toured the Froerer Farms onion packing facility, just north of Nyssa, and presented the company with a $300,000 grant for an onion marketing effort.
Following the ceremony, Walden took time for a short interview.
With Congress on a two-week recess, Walden confirmed the funding for the local Oregon Army National Guard Readiness Center in Ontario is one of the items held up as a budget battle continues between lawmakers and President George Bush.
Walden addressed this and other issues after the check ceremony.
“It’s all politics,” he said.
The funding for the new armory is part of the veterans funding bill, he said.
“The House has passed it. The Senate has passed it, and the president is ready to sign it,” Walden said, adding the United States House of Representatives leadership is trying to add something to the bill the president is expected to veto.
The farm bill is also still stalled because of efforts to add amendments on the Senate floor. Of local interest is funding for research in specialty crops and conservation funding. Walden also said he was not against funding for a feasibility study regarding Amtrak service to the Northwest.
“I’m OK with a study. It has to cost out,” he said.
