- Removing a sewer lift station at Ridgefield Junction and installing a new sewer trunk line ($1 million).
- Redeveloping the Junction well and constructing a treatment system ($1.4 million).
- 1 million gallon Junction Reservoir ($2.15 million).
- North Junction sewer collection system ($2.75 million).
“This funding will affect Ridgefield a great deal,” said Ridgefield Mayor Ron Onslow.
The projects might not be very glitzy, but they’re crucial to the city’s economic development plans. With the reconstruction of the junction at Exit 14, ongoing light industrial development, and purchase by PeaceHealth of a large piece of property in that area, “Things are starting to come back after the recession,” noted Onslow. “And as we understand it, Senator [Ann] Rivers went to bat for us.”
In an e-mail, State Senator Ann Rivers (R-La Center) confirmed that the outlook is good, but nothing is certain until the budget is passed.
“Right now,” she wrote, “I feel like we are in a good position, but that Rubenesque gal isn’t even warming her pipes up yet. Though the close of session is only a couple weeks away, we still have a long way to go. The big task truly is not getting the projects for my communities in the budget…it’s keeping them in the budget…”
For right now, Ridgefield officials are cautiously optimistic.
“These are gateway projects for future development,” said Onslow. “They will give us the capacity we need to sustain future growth.”
Added Messina, “We’re doing everything we can to be ready for it before we need it.”
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