On Friday, Governor Bill Walker sent Bethel Mayor Rick Robb a request for infrastructure project ideas from the city. The deadline for the city's list is June 30, 2017, which means the council will have to move quickly.
The Governor’s letter said that the request is due to President Trump, who “has made investment in national infrastructure a priority for his new Administration.” The Governor says that while he has already submitted a list of Alaska’s needs, he has also notified the administration that more municipal projects will be coming.
The City of Bethel will be able to send three projects to the Governor, and though the letter has only just landed on their desks, Mayor Robb and City Manager Pete Williams have some ideas already.
“The kicker on this is that we have to have a match, and it’s twenty percent,” said Williams. “I’ve got it on the table in there and that thing is so shovel ready, it’s ready to go to bid and stamped like that.”
The project Williams is referring to is the Bethel Heights Water Project, possibly for the A, B and C loops. This is one of several the city is considering and Williams will be looking for further input from Council members. The small boat harbor project was also mentioned by Mayor Robb as a possibility.
Mayor Robb anticipates some action by the City Council to be made by the next meeting on June 6, 2017.