OLYMPIA — Projects ranging from a new health and early learning center at Peninsula College to improvements at Fort Worden State Park would be funded if a plan proposed this week by the state Senate becomes law.
The Senate’s proposed capital budget would provide $3.5 billion for infrastructure improvement projects across the state.
Negotiations now begin with the House of Representatives to craft the final 2015-17 capital budget. The legislative session is scheduled to end April 26.
“We have more work to do, but this is a great start,” said state Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, who represents the 24th District along with Reps. Steve Tharinger and Kevin Van De Wege, both Sequim Democrats.
The 24th Legislative District covers Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County.
“I’m pleased to see a number of important projects across the district receive funding in this budget,” said Hargrove, who is now in his 31st session at the state Legislature and serves as ranking Democrat on the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
“It’s clear there are many urgent needs across the 24th District, and I will work to deliver adequate funding for those projects in the final budget,” he said.
Hargrove said he found bipartisan support for the capital budget, which required a 60 percent surpermajority approval, and is optimistic about the chances the measures will survive House scrutiny.
“My seat mates in the House are going to get in and pull to make sure that it gets in the final budget,” Hargrove said.
Among the funding proposed in the budget Wednesday are:
■ $23.8 million for the Allied Health and Early Childhood Development Center at Peninsula College in Port Angeles.
The funding would cover construction costs of a 41,650-square-foot building. Design services have cost $1.8 million. The total project cost is $25.6 million.
Construction is expected to begin this September.
■ $10 million for environmental cleanup efforts on the Port Angeles waterfront.
The allocation would include a $7 million grant for a $21.25 million project to remove garbage from an eroding bluff at the now-closed Port Angeles landfill and prevent the trash from falling into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
“That’s extremely good news for the city,” said Hargrove, who said he spent “a significant amount of time” talking with officials about the problem and project costs.
City officials “are bringing as many local resources to it as they can,” he said.
An allocation of $1.5 million would go to the cleanup of a site on Marine Drive in Port Angeles that housed plywood mills for many years.
The site, owned by the Port of Port Angeles, is commonly referred to as the KPly site. It most recently housed Peninsula Plywood before it shut down.
Another $900,000 would go to the cleanup of the Port Angeles Harbor, and $750,000 would fund remedial action grants for the Port of Port Angeles.
■ $2.8 million for a variety of improvements at Fort Worden State Park.
Improvements would include housing, sewer lines, roof replacement on NCO housing and other structures.
■ $1.5 million to construct a new building at the Department of Natural Resources Olympic Region complex at 411 Tillicum Lane in Forks.
The building would replace a 7,400-square-foot building that was gutted in a January 2013 fire.
The structure contained a warehouse, shop, six offices along with a fire engine and three pickup trucks that also were destroyed.
A number of smaller investments are also in the proposal, including $500,000 for the Olympic Discovery Trail.
