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Washington City Council considers joint authority agreement

2 min read
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Washington City Council is expected next month to consider reauthorizing the agreement forming the Washington-East Washington Joint Authority about 10 years before the existing pact expires to ease the way for the authority to borrow for future projects.

Authority solicitor Lane Turturice told city council Monday financial institutions are unlikely to work with the authority to help it pay for work on its aging system if the existing 50-year agreement forming the authority, which was inked in 1977, isn’t extended.

“No one is going to look at us for financing or bond refinancing when they see that we’re only going to be in existence for another 10 years,” he said.

Turturice asked city council to vote on an ordinance authorizing a new 50-year pact.

He said he expected East Washington Council to vote on an ordinance renewing the agreement Monday evening. No one answered the phone in the borough offices during the afternoon.

Turturice called the authority a “very well-run organization,” noting rates that are low for the county.

Washington Mayor Scott Putnam said the city would advertise the ordinance. He said he expected council will vote on the proposal in September. The lifespan of the new agreement would start when it’s approved, he said.

Putnam didn’t foresee any issues with reauthorizing the agreement.

“I think they do a good job,” he said.

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