2020-11-23-minutes-public-works-study-session

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KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMNHSSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: November 23, 2020 TOPIC: 2020 Washington Federal Lands Access Program Grant for Liberty Road Swank Creek Bridge Replacement ACTION REQUESTED: Authorize the Chair's Signature on Joint Endorsement for support of project LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the Chair's Signature on Joint Endorsement showing support of the project. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • Liberty Road Bridge at Swauk Creek is load limited. • The United States Forest Service is unable to move forward with a pending timber sale and implementation of its 2012 Swauk Pine Project (timber sale and stream restoration). • PW does not have sufficient local funding for replacing the bridge. • PW does not have sufficient resources allowing a multi-year deployment of a temporary bridge. BACKGROUND: During late 2019 and early 2020, PW worked with USFS staff attempting to solve access restrictions to the Liberty area. The load limited bridge crossing Swauk Creek is thwarting attempts to open a timber sale that is much needed addressing the concern for cataphoric wildland fires in the Liberty area. A long-range stream and forest restoration plan (Swauk Pine Project — USFS) is not able to move forward in the absence of bridge replacement. PW desires submitting a Federal Highway Administration, "Federal Lands Access Program" grant replacing the Swauk Creek bridge at Liberty Road. The grant application requires Board of County Commission support. The USFS and others are being pursued for letters of support. FISCAL IMPACTS: Preliminary cost estimates for replacing the load limited bridge exceed $2.5 million. ATTACHMENTS: Exhibit 1: Joint Endorsement Page 1 of 2 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT