City Slated for $7M in Senate Bill 5723

Girod and Sprenger Provide Funding for Sweet Home Wastewater Treatment Facility

SWEET HOME, Ore August 12, 2020 – Late on August 10, 2020, the Oregon Legislature approved Senate Bill 5723, which awarded the City of Sweet Home a $7M grant for upgrading the Sweet Home Wastewater Treatment Facility infrastructure.

Our current facility, built in the 1940s and last upgraded 30 years ago, treats the sewage from our homes and businesses then releases the treated water into the South Santiam River, which eventually flows into the Willamette River. As the first city along this river, upgrading our WWTP benefits our community and our neighbors downstream. 

Our city is fortunate to have such an all-star team representing us in Salem. Senator Fred Girod and Representative Sherrie Sprenger have been outstanding players for Sweet Home since their appointments in 2008. 

In June of 2019, Senator Fred Girod and Representative Sherrie Sprenger secured state funds to rehabilitate our Wastewater Treatment Plant via House Bill 5030. This month, the recent downturn in state lottery funds killed the sale of $273 million in state bonds slated to pay for 37 significant projects, including ours, listed within House Bill 5030. At that time, Senator Girod's office guided us through the reapplication process. 

Senator Girod fought to get our facility infrastructure upgrade listed in Senate Bill 5723 during the just-completed 2nd special legislative session. Senator Girod worked hard to ensure our project made it through committee and then the Senate floor and finally to the House of Representatives. Once he advanced the bill from the Senate over to the House, Representative Sprenger worked with fellow legislators on both sides of the aisle to ensure the bill's passage.

The bill now goes to the Governor's desk for her signature. We are hopeful she will sign the bill soon.

We are continually grateful for their dedication and commitment to the people of Sweet Home.  
 

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