Issues with roads in the city and upcoming transportation improvement projects were discussed during the Vader City Council meeting on Wednesday, June 4.
The improvements were part of the city’s six-year Transportation Improvement Program, which city staff have submitted a draft of to the Washington state Department of Ecology for State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review and approval.
According to Vader Mayor Joey Schey, updates to the Transportation Improvement Program are required annually by the state’s Growth Management Act. Following its approval by Ecology, city staff will advertise and hold a public hearing concerning the Transportation Improvement Program before final council approval.
“We have a little bit of time, but I wanted to make sure council took a look at it to make input before we sent it off,” Schey said.
He added city staff have already applied for Washington state Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) grant funding to pay for seven projects around Vader, five of which were on the city’s Transportation Improvement Program last year.
“This year, we got $116,000 in (TIB) grant money, and we’re gonna completely rebuild Alpine Court, Fifth Street, I Street, E Street, B Street and F Street north … between Eighth Street and Ninth Street,” Schey added.
The other councilors had no additional changes to suggest to the draft six-year Transportation Improvement Program.
F Street was the subject of more discussion during the meeting though. While the northern section of F Street between Eighth and Ninth streets, the section of F Street south of 10th Street is actually not owned by the city and in need of road repairs.
Some residents recently approached the city asking it to retake ownership of that portion of F Street so it can fund road work. City staff polled residents of that section of F Street if they wanted the city to retake ownership of the street.
According to Schey, of the 14 property owners contacted, only four supported the city retaking ownership, with one “maybe” and the remaining nine either opposing it or saying they didn’t care.
“That’s not even a majority, not even half, so, at this time I don’t think there’s enough support that the council should do anything,” Schey added. “But again, that’s up to the council so I’ll open it up to discussion.”
If the city were to retake possession of the street, it would need to adjust easements and compensate property owners on the street for their portions being retaken. Some F Street residents were in attendance at the meeting, including one who volunteered to pay out of pocket for road work.
“Back in the 90s, when the city vacated (F Street), the people that lived there, that was what they were going to do,” Schey said.
Potholes are the current main issue on the street — which is gravel — though residents on the street have had disputes in the past where vehicles have been left parked purposely in the way on the narrow street.
Ultimately, the council decided to leave ownership of F Street with the residents, and recommended the residents work it out with each other as to how road maintenance is handled.
