Economic group sets priorities
Area leaders prepare stimulus ‘bundles’ for federal representatives
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Sunday, January 11, 2009 2:19 AM PST
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| Larry Meyer | Argus Observer
This field near the entrance at the Ontario Airport, near the LifeFlight base, is the proposed location for a new Ontario Fire & Rescue substation. It is one of many ideas presented for funding through a proposed federal stimulus package. |
ONTARIO —Representatives from public agencies and private businesses met Thursday to finalize a list of projects to be submitted for funding through a proposed federal stimulus package, even though the rules on how the money could be used, how the cash will be distributed and what method will be implemented to choose the projects remain unclear.
After much debate, officials decided to “bundle” a host of proposed local projects according to category and submit explanations of each venture to Oregon U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden’s office for further consideration.
The bundle categories consist of infrastructure, education and industry and each project is subdivided into “ready to go” projects and “long-term” ventures.
The Thursday session was held in Malheur County Economic Development Director Jim Jensen’s office.
Jensen reminded all participants there was no guarantee Congress would approve the massive stimulus package proposed by President-elect Barack Obama.
“But, we want to be ready,” he said. “They want projects that are ready to go.”
While some of the local projects may be short-term, ventures that will provide immediate jobs and stimulate the economy are wanted, Jensen said.
“That is what they are looking after,” he said.
Not a lot of new projects were added to the list already developed, but more information was provided for some proposed economic development ventures named earlier.
Tim Hensley, representing Heinz Frozen Foods, said one project was designed to help the Ontario Heinz plant meet water quality standards, as required by the federal Total Maximum Daily Load process for a an 80 percent reduction of phosphorous in its waste water. The deadline for the reduction is June 2010.
Another project, he said, would include the company recycling about 90 percent of the water it uses under a sustainability plan, and a third project would have the company creating a gas from one of its bi-products.
“They are intense,” Hensley said.
Nyssa School District Superintendent Don Grotting also put a video surveillance system on the list as a safety project at the school. The surveillance system would be tied in with the police department, he said.
Vale School Superintendent Matt Hawley suggested a project to put the mushroom plant into operation.
In addition to the proposed science wing at the high school, Ontario School District Superintendent Dennis Carter said the high school needed a new roof, along with new heating and cooling systems.
Ontario city officials included a fire and rescue substation to be situated at the airport which would house a haz-mat vehicle.
As the discussion turned to prioritizing the projects, Malheur County Sheriff Andy Bentz said the group needed to be unified and support the list as a whole, and not go out for individual projects.
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