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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: November 8, 2022 <br />TOPIC: Thorp Mill <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Verify septic field placement at the current mill site. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• Recently, the Thorp Mill conservancy group approached the Board of County <br />Commission soliciting interest in taking over the facility for a county sponsored <br />tourism site. <br />• Staff visited the site on 10/31/2022. <br />• The adjoining 19 acres site supports a restroom facility (water service) on <br />approximately 19 acres of undeveloped land. <br />• Staff is anxious to vet the potential to site a flush toilet facility at the mill site. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Recently, the Thorp Mill conservancy group approached the Board of County <br />Commission soliciting interest in taking over the facility for a county sponsored tourism <br />site. The mill is in good repair but does not currently support a restroom facility. It is <br />rumored that State Parks is considering the site for possible state acquisition. During a <br />Public Works study session in October, staff was asked to visit the site and report back to <br />the Board of County Commissioners. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />Increasingly, it is getting difficult to find sufficient volunteers staffing the facility. <br />Renovations to the mill in the past ten years guarantee structural stability for the next <br />decade (roof, flooring, beams, and associated substructure). The parking lot fronting the <br />mill appears to be the most likely site for a drain field (mill ditch and associated low land <br />do not appear readily capable of supporting effluent waste disposal). The parking lot <br />does appear to be sufficient in size to site a small restroom facility. Insufficient time does <br />not allow reasonable investigation of site geology for drain field consideration. <br />Presuming worst case scenario, the restroom could be supported by an effluent tank <br />pumping system back to the 19 acres. Development of the restroom could easily run into <br />the $200-250,000 range. Staff presumes a restroom at the mill is a requirement <br />increasing access of the facility to a "year-round" tourism destination. <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />Public Works "Work Session Staff Report', 2022 <br />