2017-07-10-minutes-public-works-study-session

Home Browse Search

Dept. of Public Works Page 2 Mark stated that the next steps will include a legal briefing for the Board on process and the specific manner business is to be conducted to get the road improvement district formulated. Then the formulation hearing would be noticed and docketed. Commissioner Jewell asked when the notice of public hearing would be ready for consideration and Mark replied early August. Commissioner Osiadacz commented that she is happy to see this project move forward and relieve the residents in the area of the stress of this issue. She continued mentioning the road standards, process and why it is so important to have roads built to standard from the beginning. Board Direction: No direction. CARROLL ROAD TRAFFIC DISCUSSION• Mark reported that recently Public Works had been contacted by residents along Carroll Road which turned into a productive conversation regarding land use in Badger Pocket. In particular at the forefront is recognition of aggregate versus agricultural usage. The area has a large dairy, a hay press operation and a fairly robust aggregate production component. Most recently, staff was noticed of an expansion of an aggregate mine expansion in the area with the delivery vehicles coming in along Badger Pocket Road by Wesco and turning onto Carroll Road and accessing the mines on Carroll Road. Mark continued that noise is an issue as it relates to truck traffic and one of the things that have come to light is that compression brakes are being used early in the morning and on the weekends. Public Works has considered some options and one that could happen is that the community comes forward with a petition to lower the speed limit for staff review. Traffic count data has been collected and is being processed. Mark added that staff has had conversation regarding potential mitigation. The hay press operation in the area has inflicted damage to the roadway due to heavy loads being hauled. In previous discussions the hiring of a commercial vehicle officer has been brought up and may need to be revisited since currently overweight vehicles are causing roadway damage. A section of Carroll Road has limited sight distance and is signed at thirty five miles per hour. There are multiple instances of agricultural operations pulling out onto the roadway are immediately come up upon at a rapid speed. The Kittitas Reclamation District also has ditch riders in the area that has expressed concerns about speeding truck traffic as well. Mark continued that with all of this information that he has told area residents that if they wanted to petition to have the speed lowered staff would prepare the necessary documentation for Board of County Commissioner consideration. Commissioner Jewell asked what the current speed limit is on Carroll Road and Mark replied it is currently fifty miles per hour. Mark added that he has shared in the past how lowering the speed limit doesn't assist in driver behavior however; this is truck traffic as opposed to car traffic. Commissioner Jewell brought up the issue of reader signs being deployed and how they could be useful in this sort of situation and other construction going on in the county and traffic diverting to avoid I-90 construction and traffic delays. Mark responded that staff has done research on speed interaction signs and will put some time into looking at reader signs as well. Dan Carlson, CDS Director, stated that the mining expansion is an active conditional use permit application that the Board will be taking action on in a closed record hearing. Therefore, no discussion or testimony of this permit is allowed. Discussion was 411 N. Ruby, Ste. #1 TEL (509) 962-7523 Ellensburg, WA 98926 FAX (509) 962-7663