Janesville to receive $400,000 earmark
JANESVILLE — It’s easy to speak against an earmark.
Until it’s your own.
Janesville is getting a $400,000 earmark to renovate its wastewater treatment plant, courtesy of Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., through Congress’s annual appropriations bill.
The city is borrowing to pay for the $32 million project.
“That’s one of my specialties, working on earmarks,” city Manager Eric Levitt said. “I told the council that.”
Levitt said during his interview process last year that one of his specialties is bringing home the earmarks.
“My approach is, whether you like them or not, they’re right now in existence. If they are in existence, I’m going to do everything I can to make sure the residents of Janesville benefit, too.”
A so-called earmark includes money a member of Congress puts in the different appropriations bills for a specific project.
The city failed to get any stimulus funding for the treatment plant renovations.
That money was distributed through the state Department of Natural Resources, which ranked projects on criteria.
“We fell out just after the last project that got funding,” Levitt said.
The $400,000 will help offset the money the city is borrowing to renovate the plant.
Levitt said he would attempt to submit another request for the same project next year, although that is typically unsuccessful once one has been awarded.
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Nov 28, 2009 at 7:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
It is good to update the sewer plant. Makes the water taste better!
Nov 27, 2009 at 11:17 p.m.
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Just because they exist? Is that an ethical rationale? People wake up. The government is robbing you and sending your tax dollars as bribes for votes.
What we really need is campaign reform and the complete elimination of lobbying. Otherwise you will have a government that is "For the special interest groups, by the people, and of the special interest groups." Just like we do now.
Nov 27, 2009 at 9:47 p.m.
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More then ryan has ever done for Janesville! and i voted for the cheney wanabeeeeee... I for the life of me cant figure what he has done!! I hope he signs up his boys to go to afghanastan so his wife dont sleep at night worrying about her kids!! but like most conservative kids, they dont spend one day protecting there country, they just buy non american made vehicles. and send the jobs overseas and bring in the $14 hour jobs.. Folks,, i vote whats best for my family not any particular party and Ryan is worthless.. all he is looking out for is what his party thinks of him,, wake up and get him out of office next year.. take a piece of paper and write down what he has done for this town?? go ahead.. you cant
Nov 27, 2009 at 8:29 p.m.
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I have to agree with everyone else. 400,000 out of 32 million isn't much. Granted, it's better than nothing, but it's certainly not a bridge to nowhere.
Nov 27, 2009 at 7:52 p.m.
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localboy, you're completely right as usual. If the government tells us we need something and tells us we need to borrow 32 million dollars to do it even though our state/country is bankrupt we need to listen. The government has done a great job so far and what they say goes. Good job localboy, the government and Levit will take care of us all. It's very emotionally soothing.
Nov 27, 2009 at 5:54 p.m.
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dkush21 - do you know the requirements for the wastewater treatment? Do you know if it is mandatory per the DNR? Do you know if it is legally required to have a newer standard facility? If not, then don't spew YOUR "foolishness anymore".....
Nov 27, 2009 at 5:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
We are losing people left and right in Janesville because of GM, Lear, etc. shutting down and people are foreclosing on their homes. We do not need to do anything with the wastewater plant if there is less people to use it. If they don't start focusing on bringing good paying jobs here, Janesville will be a ghost town soon enough. No one can afford the taxes for this and that foolishness anymore!
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