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The City of Twentynine Palms is getting another federal grant for preliminary work and public outreach for a proposed sewer system.
The system, estimated at a total of $85,000,000, is proposed to be done in two initial phases with the treatment plant sited on the North side of Amboy Road, just west of Sunmore Estates. At a press conference at City Hall Friday (August 5), Congressman Jay Obernolte announced an additional $1.27 million was in the annual appropriations bill recently approved by congress, still needing Senate approval, this is in addition to $670,000 in federal funding already approved. Obernolte said the city system is funded separately from a proposed Marine base sewer system but there is hope the systems can be combined.
The first phase would include the area surrounding the northern Adobe Road area, phase two is in the downtown area.
City Councilman MacArthur Wright said he wants to build the sewer system without charging residents for hookups.
Mayor Karmolette O’Gilvie added she thinks it can be also done without an assessment district. The city council members said the system is to accommodate growth, not to protect the aquifer which the USGS said was not in danger at this time.
Obernolte said the 29 Palms system is a priority for him and he will continue to work for more federal funding.
