2021-02-22-minutes-public-works-study-session

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KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: February 22, 2021 TOPIC: Fish Lake Road Addressing ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook RECOMMENDATION: Waive addressing fees and establish "Fish Lake Road" addresses for County residents. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • In 2020, Public Works completed replacement of the Big Boulder Creek Bridge on Fish Lake Road. • The road is currently maintained by the United States Forest Service (USFS) under a maintenance agreement dating back to 1993 (EXHIBIT 1); the USFS roadway designation is 4330. • The growing recreational demand and resulting safety concerns is suggesting to Public Works that renewed actions re-establishing County maintenance authority is warranted. • Assigning addresses to the few county residents along the roadway formalizes the road being recorded in the County Road Log as "County". • The cost of establishing County address could be borne by the Road Fund as the action is not being requested by residents. BACKGROUND: For over 25 years, Fish Lake Road (Forrest Service Road Number 4330) has received various levels of road maintenance via a maintenance agreement with the United States Forrest Service. A failed wooden bridge at Big Boulder Creek was replaced by the County in 2020. Recognizing renewed County maintenance demands along the road, Public Works believes it is time to claim road ownership in the County's Road Log. The County Road Administration Board utilizes County road logs to apportion motor vehicle tax to counties. DISCUSSION: Growing use pressure and declining road maintenance funding from the USFS suggests more county maintenance focus is likely in the future. The bridge replacement at Big Boulder Creek underscores the County's maintenance obligation. Addressing county residents as "Fish Lake Page 1 of 3 Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2021