Othello accepts loan to begin road work

OTHELLO — Othello accepted a $570,000 Public Works Trust Fund Loan to begin improvements to the state Route 24 industrial area.

The city put forth $30,000 in matching funds to obtain the money.

The loan will fund pre-construction work including, engineering and environmental studies, said City Administrator Ehman Sheldon. The total cost for the project is expected to be about $6 million.

The term of the loan is five years, he said. Once the city begins pre-construction work, they term of the loan will be extended to 20 years.

The three-year construction project will begin in 2010, he said. It includes the highway and arterial roads such as Moon Street, Canning Street, Lawson Street, Baker Street, Hudson Street, Teck Street, Park Street, Concrete Drive, Roosevelt Avenue and Industrial Lane.

The project includes replacing water and sewer lines and paving all the roadways.

The project will alleviate all the flooding on the west side of the area.

Sheldon said the area is a focus for improvements because no permanent improvements were done in the past. Previously the city did not do improvements due to a misunderstanding in the law leading them to believe the property owners were required to do the improvements.

Councilmember Ken Caylor motioned to accept the loan and Councilmember Eleanor Brodahl seconded. The motion passed unanimously.