Sewer funds secured

Bulldozers will push dirt next spring, building Sisters' long-awaited sewer.

Sisters Mayor Steve Wilson signed the paperwork on Thursday, July 29, for a $2.8 million grant and a $3.3 million loan from Rural Utilities Services (RUS; formerly Rural Development). RUS, under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to formally approve the loan by Wednesday, August 4.

"This is the lion's share of the commitment we needed to do the sewer system," Wilson said. "I think everyone in the city can breathe a sigh of relief. The sewer system is a reality."

The loan, at 4.5 percent interest over 40 years, is part of the bonded debt approved by the citizens of the City of Sisters to launch the project. According to Wilson, Rural Utilities Services has verbally committed to another round of grant funding in its next fiscal year, which begins in October.

"They want to grant us more money than what we signed for today," Wilson said.

This loan and grant package will fund the first phase of the sewer project, covering the older residential districts and the downtown core of Sisters.

The Sisters Industrial Park and newer residential areas will follow in a second phase.

"The person on the street won't see a gap between phase one and phase two," Wilson said. "Phase two will come on the heels of phase one."

According to Wilson, phase one is now fully funded and monthly rate target of $39 per month per "equivalent dwelling unit" has been met.

The mayor said more grant money may be available to reduce the monthly rate further to a target of $35.10 per month per EDU.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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