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Thursda~
Oct. 27,
2016
- She#on-Mason County Journal - Page A-7
Journal photo by Gordon Weeks
In 2013, the City of Shelton was awarded a $497,700 federal Safe Routes to
School grant for improvements next to Evergreen Elementary that include
sidewalks, curbs, gutters, curb extensions, signage, speed feedback signs,
crossing guard equipment and emphasis patrols. The city has not spent
any of the grant and can return it if it decides to abandon the project.
eClSlOnS on
By GORDON WEEKS
gordon@masoncoun com
The Shelton City Commission will
face decisions on the fate of three major
public works projects that have been
sitting on the shelf -- one of them for
17 years -- as it examines the prelimi-
nary 2017 budget at 6 p.m. Nov. 7 at
the Shelton Civic Center.
The three projects under consider-
ation are the state Route 3 park-and-
ride lot next to the downtown's north-
ern entrance, "safe route" improve-
ments around Evergreen Elementary
and replacing sidewalks capping Shel-
ton Creek in downtown Shelton.
If the city abandons both the down-
town creek and park-and-ride projects,
it will be forced to pay back $474,523
in grant money it has already spent on
those projects.
That was the news that was deliv-
ered Monday to two of the three com-
missioners at a work session at, the
Shelton Civic Center. Mayor Gary
Cronce was attending to personal busi-
nessand was not in attendance.
Acting public works director Craig
Gregory gave the update on the proj-
ects to the commissioners. City ad-
ministrator Ryan Wheaton said public
works director Greg Clark did not at-
tend because he was ill.
The city also announced that city
Engineer Mike Michaels has resigned.
The state Route 3 park-and-ride
project has been in' the works since
1999. The project includes completing
the design and bid documents, right-
of-way acquisition and construction of
a facility that will serve commuters in
North Mason and Kitsap counties. The
new facility would also provide Mason
Transit a pull-off site for buses con-
necting to the downtown Transit-Com-
munity Center and beyond.
The city received a federal grant of
$698,200 for the right-of-way and de-
sign. The city has spent $411,370 of
that money, Gregory told the commis-
sioners.
Gregory said the design is about 90
percent complete, and the right-of-way
is also almost completed.
The city reports that the construc-
tion budget is $450,000 in federal funds
and $50,000 in city
a park-and-ride for 17 years, and then
have an empty lot?" Wheaton asked.
In 2013, the city was awarded a
$497,700 federal Safe Routes to School
grant for improvements next to Ever-
green Elementary that include side-
walks, curbs, gutters, curb extensions,
signage, speed feedback signs, crossing
guard equipment and emphasis pa-
trols.
The city reports that the current
cost estimate to design and build the
sidewalks is $460,000. That doesn't in-
clude paving shoulders and storm work
improvements, which would cost an ex-
tra $400,000.
The city has not spent any of the
$497,700 federal grant and can return
it if the commission decides to aban-
don the project, Gregory said. If the
city chooses to proceed, it is required
to appeal to the Washington state De-
partment of Transportation (WSDOT)
to authorize the city to implement the
work, he said.
The downtown creek project in-
cludes replacing the capping on Shel-
ton Creek and providing new Ameri-
cans with" Disabilities Act-standard
curb ramps at corners, The project was
launched in 2007.
The city has spent $63,153 of a
$75,637 federal Surface Transporta-
tion grant for design.
Construction will be funded by an
additional $354,560 in federal funds.
The latest construction estimate in Oc-
tober 2014 was $483,000.
The original design consultant, Gray
& Osborne, worked on the project until
Mason Transit Authority added it to its
project at the Transit-Community Cen-
ter; MTA later cut the project.
The city reports the firm RH2 then
worked on the design until the funding
ran out. The city terminated its con-
tract with RH2 in October 2014.
WSDOT Local Programs is requir-
ing the city to appeal to WSDOT to per-
mit the project to move forward. If the
city is denied, it will be forced to pay
back the $63,153 spent to date.
Gregory said the city needs to hire
a consultant to complete the design,
which is estimated to cost between
$50,000 and $100,000. In December
2015, the commission approved the
staffto
Alford N. Vassall, Jr.,
Board Certified
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Specializing in:
• Obstetrics and prenatal care
• Childbirth and delivery
• Women's gynecological needs
M.D.
Mercedes Goebel, M.D.
Board Certified
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Speciah'zing in:
• Gynecological care and surgery
• Obstetrics and prenatal care
• Contraceptives and family planning
Carley A. Jacobs, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Specializing in:
• Primary care rural medicine
• Well-woman care
• Preventive medicine