U.S. EPA, Representative Emilia Sykes, Mayor Sherer II and AFSCME Officers Highlight Federal Money Helping Canton Water Project
Canton’s water and the ways the city and its employees work to protect it and keep it clean for its 42,500 customers in Stark County were celebrated Thursday by federal, state and local officials.
U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes and Bruno Pigott, deputy assistant administrator for water for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, toured Canton’s Northeast Water Treatment Plant to learn about its operations and about the $46 million improvement project underway at the Sugar Creek Water Treatment Plant, which supplies roughly half of Canton’s daily drinking water.
“Outdated, aging water systems have been costly for our communities, resulting in higher costs for ratepayers and at worst, dangerous drinking water conditions,” said Sykes, a Democrat representing Ohio's 13th congressional district that includes northwest Stark County, Summit County and portions of southwest Portage County. “This investment will keep water rates affordable, protect our drinking water, and create good-paying union jobs.”
AFSCME International President, Lee Saunders and AFSCME Ohio Council 8 Principal Officers, Sean Grayson and Marcia Knox were on hand as representatives of the Water Department’s unionized workforce. Congresswoman Sykes, Pigott, Ohio EPA representative David Emerman, Canton Mayor and union Ironworker William V. Sherer II, Water Superintendent Tyler Converse recognized the Canton Water Department's employees and highlighted how the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has made essential infrastructure projects such as this possible.