HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-09-13-minutes-continued-public-hearings-from-september-509/13/2017 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
COMMISSIONERS AUDITORIUM
SPECIAL MEETING
WEDNESDAY 3:00 P.M. SEPTEMBER 13, 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; and approximately 10 members of the
public.
PUBLIC HEARING CARROLL ROAD SPEED LIMIT PUBLIC WORKS
At 3:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN JEWELL opened a Public Hearing continued from
September 5, 2017 to consider a potential speed limit reduction on
Carroll Road and to Amend Section 10.08.020 of the Kittitas County
Code.
LUCAS HUCK, ENGINEER provided a Staff Report relating to the request
to reduce the posted speed limit from 50 MPH to 35 MPH along Carroll
Road from Badger Pocket Road to Prater Road. He described the
factors and studies that are conducted when determining safe and
reasonable speed limits. He said solely from a Transportation
Engineering perspective, they are suggesting to retain the current
posted speed limit of 50 MPH; posting additional warning signs at
known crossing locations; deploy signage restricting the use of un-
muffled compression brakes; and re-evaluating the size and placement
of advisory speed limit signs in the vicinity of Murray Road. The
Board asked questions and for clarification of Staff relating to the
proposal.
THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: COURTNEY WEGNER submitted letters into
the record from others in support of the speed reduction as well as
information she had collected with traffic counts, times, and
company trucks. She said over the years the traffic has increased
significantly with truck traffic. She explained how the trucks go
incredibly fast along Carroll Road and their exhaust breaks are
extremely loud. BRYAN WILLIAMS said he has property adjacent to the
proposal and encouraged the Board to at least make it a no-passing
zone if they decide to reduce the speed limit to 35 MPH. MR. FAUST
spoke in support of the proposed speed limit reduction. RAY WEGNER
expressed concerns with the current speed and said unless you live
in the area the statistics doesn’t show what is really happening. He
said things have changed due to a significant increase in the amount
of homes in the area and encouraged the Board to approve reducing
the speed limit. JESSICA MARKUS questioned what the process was of
speed studies; requirements of tarped loads versus non-tarped loads;
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and expressed concerns of large trucks not being able to come to a
stop in time near her driveway when they are going 50 MPH. CLIFF
SCHJONEMAN questioned what density was used for the County’s speed
study, as the number of driveways have gone up significantly. TRACY
WALTERS explained how it is a dangerous situation when the large
trucks come up over the hills at a high rate of speed as there are
many driveways with children in the area. She encouraged the Board
to reduce the speed limit. MRS. FAUST said the large trucks cannot
handle the hills at a high speed before coming to the stop signs.
COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN moved to follow Staff’s recommendation of
placing additional signage including no use of un-muffled
compression breaks and to add additional signs which reflect
advising motorists to drive at a safer speed limit of 35 MPH.
COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ seconded.
COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN explained how it was an agriculture area and
there are repeat drivers in the area who know the hills and roads.
He hoped the drivers would be more respectful of the residences and
suggested maybe talking to the Sheriff to have some additional
patrols in the area. COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ felt there were a lot of
things to take into account and understood the concerns relating to
the safety of families in the area. She said she would like to hear
more information from the Public Works Department in case they have
additional insight to provide the Board. She noted they have been
discussing similar situations throughout the County as it continues
to grow. CHAIRMAN JEWELL explained why he would be voting against
the motion and thought there were extenuating circumstances. He said
they need to somehow find a balance as Carroll Road is located in an
agricultural area; as well as a mining area; and a significant
increase of residences in the area. He felt lowering the speed limit
was appropriate as it’s a short road and the impact will be fairly
limited.
Motion failed.
COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ moved to lower the speed limit on Carroll Road
to 35 MPH and to post additional signage around the hill area to
inform drivers of un-muffled breaks not being allowed and to direct
Staff to prepare enabling documents. CHAIRMAN JEWELL seconded.
COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN said he would not be supporting the motion as
he was concerned with having such a short stretch of road within a
50 MPH system, that people wouldn’t obey the 35 MPH speed limit.
Motion carried 2-1 (Commissioner O’Brien opposed the motion).
PUBLIC HEARING AIRPORT LEASE - GLAHN PUBLIC WORKS
At approximately 4:35 p.m. CHAIRMAN JEWELL opened a Public Hearing
continued from September 5, 2017 to consider a Lease for Lot H-34 &
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Lot H-35 of the Kittitas County Airport Binding Site Plan to Tyler
Glahn.
MARK COOK, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR reviewed a Staff Report and a
proposed Lease Agreement with Tyler Glahn for property at the
Kittitas County Airport Binding Site Plan.
THERE BEING NO ONE REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE
HEARING WAS CLOSED.
LEASE AGREEMENT TYLER GLAHN PUBLIC WORKS
COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ moved to approve a Lease Agreement between
Kittitas County and Tyler Glahn, for Lots H-34 and H-35 of the
Kittitas County Airport Binding Site Plan. COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN
seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Paul Jewell, Chairman