HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-08-22-minutes-dot-meeting-with-county-staff08/22/2017 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
COMMISSIONERS AUDITORIUM
SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 1:30 P.M. AUGUST 22, 2017
Board members present: Chairman Paul Jewell; Vice-Chairman Laura
Osiadacz; and Commissioner Obie O’Brien.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Mark Cook, Public Works
Director; Lucas Huck, Engineer; Clayton Myers, Undersheriff; Brian
White, Department of Transportation; Mark Larson, Public Health
Official; Todd Trepanier, Department of Transportation; and
approximately 15 members of the public.
SPECIAL MEETING NELSON SIDING ROAD PUBLIC WORKS
At 1:30 p.m. CHAIRMAN JEWELL opened a Special Meeting to discuss the
Nelson Siding Road Traffic/Update Exit 70 Truck Traffic Planning
Efforts.
MARK COOK, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR reviewed several options they had
come up with that could possibly assist with traffic during peak
periods on Interstate 90 near Exists 74 & 78. The options included:
Closing the Department of Transportation Ramps at Exit 74 and Exit
78; Variable Message Sign Weekend Notice to Remain on I-90;
Barricades at Saint Andrews and Oakmont; Barricades at Old Cedars
Road and Type II Removable Barricades at Nelson Siding and Westside
Road. He also provided discussion points on each of the options.
MR. TREPANIER said they could look at different options but they
need to find out what way it would be best managed. CHAIRMAN JEWELL
said their hope was to help stop the traffic that bypasses I-90
during the peak times. COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ felt the most important
closure would be going westbound, and not necessarily eastbound.
CLAY MYERS, UNDERSHERIFF said it was a very large and complex issue
and unfortunately it could not be completely resolved in one
meeting. He noted how any changes could affect other businesses in
the area besides the golf course and they should be notified as well
so they can plan accordingly. He also said they don’t have the
manpower to monitor closures and determine who gets into the area.
An alternate route sign on the freeway may help get some of the
traffic to continue rather than get off on the exit.
MR. TREPANIER said the Department of Transportation has never
experienced an issue such as this one. He indicated that all of the
State grids continue to experience extremely high volumes of summer
traffic due to various types of activities and travelers. He noted
how any changes need to have an overall information campaign in
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order to inform the travelers and use both social and general media
coverage. If signs were needed for whatever decision is made, the
DOT would probably not be able to assist with the costs of signs.
They would only be able grant permission to use them. He explained
how they can only do projects that’s directed by the Legislature and
didn’t see things changing in the future on the highway. The
problems that they are being faced with are due to the roads being
made to well, too fast, and people are using them for the wrong
reasons.
There were various suggestions provided from Staff and the public on
ways that could potentially help with the traffic.
Commissioner Jewell had to leave the meeting due to a scheduling
conflict at 2:44 p.m.
Commissioner Osiadacz said Nelson Siding Road is not alone in the
County as there is the same type of issues elsewhere too.
Lucas Huck, Engineer, explained they may not be able to get signs
done in a short timeframe before the Labor Day weekend. They would
need to first obtain a permit from the DOT and get quotes from the
sign department.
Mr. Cook did not feel comfortable with being able to produce and
install signs to the Board’s expectation on such short notice
either. Undersheriff Myers said it would cost an additional
$4,000.00 to have enforcement emphasis from noon to 8:00 p.m. on
Sunday and Monday and they would need a budget amendment approved by
the Board of Commissioners. He said there is also a public health
component to the issue and was hoping Dr. Larson may be able to
address it but he had to leave the meeting early.
Commissioner O’Brien moved to direct Staff to request from the
Department of Transportation, a closure to Exit 78 westbound only,
on the Monday of Labor Day weekend from 10:00 a.m. to midnight.
Commissioner Osiadacz seconded. Motion carried 2-0.
The Board indicated they would be supportive of posting two (2)
Sheriff’s Deputies from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. during that day to
assist and the Sheriff’s Department would need to submit a budget
amendment for the amount it would cost for personnel on that day.
08/22/2017 MINUTES 3
The meeting was adjourned at 3:52 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Paul Jewell, Chairman