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08/16/2016 MINUTES 1 <br />COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES <br />KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON <br />COMMISSIONERS AUDITORIUM <br />SPECIAL MEETING <br /> <br />TUESDAY 2:00 P.M. AUGUST 16, 2016 <br /> <br />Board members present: Chairman Obie O’Brien; Vice-Chairman Paul <br />Jewell and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz. <br /> <br />Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Mark Cook, Public Works <br />Director; Lucas Huck, Engineer; Jeff Watson, Staff Planner; and <br />approximately 20 members of the public. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING SPEED LIMIT – NELSON SIDING ROAD PUBLIC WORKS <br /> <br />At 2:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN O’BRIEN opened a Public Hearing to consider <br />amending Kittitas County Code Chapter 10.08.020 – Setting the Speed <br />Limit for Nelson Siding Road at 35 MPH. <br /> <br />MARK COOK, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR indicated there were numerous <br />residents along Nelson Siding Road who had requested the speed limit <br />be lowered to 35 MPH. The Public Works Department recently obtained <br />additional traffic data over the weekend during the last week of <br />July. In their review they looked at traffic speeds, volumes, access <br />densities, increased development in the area and traffic bypassing <br />I-90. He noted the maximum recorded weekend speeds were 78.1 MPH at <br />the I-90 end and 90 MPH at the Westside Road end. Mr. Cook indicated <br />that at the conclusion of their study they were recommending a 35 <br />mile per hour speed limit to improve safety in the location from <br />Milepost 0.0 at Westside Road to Mile Post 4.37 at Interstate 90. <br />COMMISSIONER JEWELL noted that if the speed limit were reduced to 35 <br />MPH it would make it eligible for ATV use. <br /> <br />THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: KIM LOHNES explained how property values <br />were being affected and there are neighbors who are moving out of <br />the area due to the excessive speed limit. She indicated people are <br />aware of the short cut to bypass I-90 when traffic is heavy which <br />creates increased traffic. JADEN LOHNES said there are times when he <br />is at his bus stop and there are cars going faster than the speed <br />limit and it can be scary for him. LINNEA MONTGOMERY explained how <br />traffic at midnight can be just as bad as during the daytime. She <br />expressed concerns with the speed limit and amount of traffic in the <br />area and urged the Commissioners to approve their request. She <br />submitted a Petition signed by various citizens to lower the speed <br />limit. FRIEDA ELLISON said she was the Business Manager for the Cle <br />Elum/Roslyn School District and said the bus drivers are concerned <br />with safety and have experienced people speeding by them even with <br />their stop signs out. THERESA ELLISON expressed safety concerns <br />within the area and said she will not allow her children to go out