Imperial eyes plant sites By BRIANNA LUSK, Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 10:52 PM PDT
IMPERIAL City officials are paving the way for the infrastructure needed to draw development to Mesquite Lake Industrial Park near here.
Mayor Mark Gran said it is vital for the city to take the initiative in showing progress is being made in order to draw industrial and international developers.
“If they’re on a timetable we need to show someone’s taking action,” Gran said. “We need to keep it moving.”
The latest in a series of steps the city is taking to establish the foundation for growth is the contract the council unanimously approved Wednesday to determine potential sites for water and wastewater treatment facilities.
Community Development Director Jackie Loper estimated that by 2013, the city would outgrow its capacity at its facility.
City Manager Marlene Best said water is a necessity to meet future city growth and the volume of industry the city and county hope to attract to the Mesquite area.
“Trying to get infrastructure into Mesquite when we have the opportunity to attract international companies makes good sense,” Best said.
The council agreed to contract with Albert A. Webb Associates, a Riverside-based firm, for $24,500.
The survey will determine an ideal location for future water facilities in relation to the rest of the industrial area. Potential sites could be determined in the next four months.
Water and wastewater facilities take the longest to construct, Best said, and taking action now shows prospective investors signs of progress.
“For some of these companies we’ve had the opportunity to meet through the county, Mesquite seems to be the best location for them at this time,” Best said.
In particular, investors from China have made several trips to the county to talk about possible projects, Best said.
The city and county have talked of partnering together and in July the council approved an agreement that would open the door for a partnership with the county, investing city redevelopment funds in a consultant to survey the area’s potential.
The county has not yet approved that agreement.
The pending partnership between the county and the city to funnel money into the area should not slow the city, Gran said.
“If county gets back on the horse, that’s great,” Gran said. If not, we’re moving on with or without them.”
Councilman Geoff Dale said with the number of elite delegations showing an interest in Imperial County, time is of the essence.
“We’re going to miss the boat,” Dale said. “One thing we don’t want to lose at this point in time is the potential of good-paying jobs. We’ve seen what it is going to be and what we think we can do. I think for the Valley it’s something very important for us to do.”
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