The Centralia City Council recognized three 20th Legislative District lawmakers for their support in bringing in more than $91 million in spending on projects within the district from the capital budget for the next biennium.
Washington State Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, and Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, attended Tuesday night’s council meeting to accept praise and a proclamation from the council.
The budget includes $5 million toward the City of Centralia nitrates project to help bring safe drinking water in the Fords Prairie neighborhood, $1.092 million for field lights at Fort Borst Park, $541,000 for a Cascade Community Health behavioral health facility in the United Learning Center in Centralia, and $299,000 for a Fox Theatre restoration, among others. It also features $10.2 million in transportation funding to improve road conditions in the Harrison Avenue corridor.
Centralia Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston lauded the lawmakers for their efforts in particular with the nitrates project, resulting from high levels of nitrates found in the aquifers in the Fords Prairie area, the majority of which stemming from the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) operated Bob Oke Game Farm.
…
While Abbarno admitted he was not born and raised in Centralia, he said few people love the community more than him as he spent two terms as a Centralia city councilor and has had a hand in numerous community projects and organizations.
“I love this community. I want to see it thrive like every single city and county in our district. I want to see each one of them reach their full potential,” he said. “Obviously, Centralia has a little more personal touch for me because of living and working here and having my kids raised here. No matter where I go in the world, no matter where I retire, I’ll always be from Centralia. Centralia is always going to be my home.”
