Harlingen seeks Washington lobbyist

HARLINGEN ? City commissioners want to hire a new Washington, D.C., lobbyist to seek federal money months after dropping a contract with a Washington firm, officials said Friday.
The city expects to pay about $120,000 for the lobbyist.
Officials plan to split the cost among the city, the Economic Development Corporation, WaterWorks System and Valley International Airport, Commissioner Jerry Prepejchal said.
?We need to get someone in Washington to start fighting for us,? he said. ?There?s money at the federal government that we have never even tapped into.?
The lobbyist would seek funds for city, EDC, WaterWorks and airport projects, Prepejchal said.
?Everybody?s going to have a somewhat different agenda,? he said.
The city dropped the firm of Meyers and Associates more than six months ago after its annual $120,000 contract expired, Assistant City Manager Gabriel Gonzalez said.
The EDC has earmarked $60,000 to help fund a lobbyist, Bill Martin, the agency?s chief executive officer, said.
?Getting federal dollars for local projects is more competitive than ever so most communities feel it?s important to have help in Washington, D.C.,? Martin said. ?You?ve got to be in the game for a shot at the money.?
Mayor Chris Boswell said he would like a lobbyist to seek money to help turn the Regional Academic Health Center into a four-year medical school.
Prepejchal, who represents District 4, said city projects there include a $1.3 million plan to replace old clay and asbestos water lines. City crews fix water line breaks there as often as five times a week, he said.
At the airport, the city wants to fund a customs station to speed entry of a growing number of Mexican nationals traveling to the Rio Grande Valley, Prepejchal said.
WaterWorks General Manager Darrell Gunn said he?s applied for $40 million in federal money to fund a capital improvements project that includes construction of two new water plants and a sewer plant.

Source: http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/harlingen-97292-lobbyist-seeks.html

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