City officials lobby for support for local projects

MARYSVILLE — A delegation of Marysville city officials recently went to Washington, D.C., to try and enlist federal legislators’ support for local projects.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring and City Council members Donna Wright, Jeff Seibert, Michael Stevens and Rob Toyer met with U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell and the staff of U.S. Sen. Patty Murray during the annual National League of Cities Congressional Conference, which took place this year March 9-13.

“Face-to-face meetings with our Congressional leaders are a critical component of our ongoing efforts to ensure the needed investment in Marysville’s infrastructure, and other needs are clearly known and given proper consideration at the federal level,” said Nehring, who’s made frequent trips to Olympia during the current state legislative session, to testify on behalf of Marysville-sponsored bills and issues that impact the community.

The Marysville city officials’ highest priority in their lobbying efforts was to inform Washington state’s Congressional delegation about key regional transportation infrastructure projects that will need state and federal funding in order to move forward, as well as to underscore how vital these projects are for Marysville and the surrounding region. Among the potential projects discussed during the conference were the expansions of the interchanges for not only 116th Street NE and Interstate 5, but also State Route 529 and I-5, in addition to on- and off-ramps for the 156th Street and I-5 overpass.

Marysville representatives also took time during their visit to the nation’s capitol to address federal Community Development Block Grants and public safety items. The city of Marysville became eligible to administer CDBG funds in 2012, to address local priority housing and community development needs that primarily benefit low- and moderate-income individuals. That same year the city awarded $217,914 in assistance to homeless and senior housing programs, food programs, domestic violence services, and improvements to the local Boys & Girls Club.

The city delegation also cited the need for Justice Department grants to help Marysville Police add more School Resource Officers in schools, just as fire and emergency response grants enabled the hiring-back of three firefighters to the Marysville Fire District.

Nehring even joined a small group of elected officials to discuss the coal exports issue with a deputy undersecretary of Transportation, arguing the need for mitigation and grade separation in Marysville.

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