Commissioners to consider road programs

October 25 , 2007

With the end of 2007 starting to draw near, Wahkiakum County commissioners have scheduled set hearing times for their updates of their annual road program and their six year program.

The board has scheduled the hearings for November 13, 11 a.m. They'll also hold a hearing on their annual 14-year ferry improvement plan.

The programs are required for the road department to access state and federal road funds.

The proposed 2008 annual construction plan shows replacement of the Puget Island ferry terminal, $2.3 million; replacement of Rock Creek Bridge on the Elochoman Valley Road, $815,000; repair of a slide on the Altoona-Pillar Rock Road at milepost 8.5, $110,000; repair of the roof of the Grays River Covered Bridge, $140,000; repair of the A.G. Hansen Bridge over the Elochoman River on Beaver Creek Road, $140,000; improving drainage on Fairgrounds Road, $80,000;

Paving on North Welcome Slough Road, $69,000; paving on West Little Island Road, $496,000; paving on Beaver Creek Road, $525,000; realigning a portion of Covered Bridge Road, $25,000; slide repair on Elochoman Valley Road, $57,000; stabilizing a portion of Loop Road, $5,000, and paving on upper Elochoman Valley Road, $50,000.

The projects total $4.8 million; the county share would be $639,000.

Work on some of the projects may start before 2008, with the projects being paid in 2008. Public Works Director Pete Ringen wants to repair the failed tidegate and culvert system on Fairgrounds Road before the winter's storms and high tides, which could lead to flooding in the area.

Future projects found in the six-year road plan include:

2009--paving on Elochoman Valley Road, continued work on Loop Road slides; starting engineering to replace the Puget Island ferry, and preparing the Altoona-Pillar Rock chip seal project, which is scheduled for 2010.

2010--improving Ingalls Road.

2011 and later--improving and paving South Welcome Slough, Altoona-Pillar Rock, Hungry Highway, and Eden Valley roads and replacing culverts on Family Camp Road.

Commissioners have been working on their 2008 budgets this week.

On Thursday (today), they're scheduled to meet with Court Clerk Barbara Blix at 1 p.m. and Cathlamet Mayor Dick Swart at 2:30 p.m.

On Friday, they're scheduled to meet with Ringen from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon, Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic Manager Kathy Patterson from 1 to 3 p.m. and with Assessor Sulema Zerr at 3 p.m.

A proposed budget will be released in mid-November with the annual budget hearing to follow later in the month.