BINGEN — City councilors met on Jan. 24 to review their accomplishments in the year prior and discuss their top priorities for the upcoming year. In a year that saw park improvements, a new carsharing program, the Tunnel 5 fire and much more, city staffers look forward to what 2024 has to offer.
They opened the two-hour meeting with some icebreaker questions for their newest councilors: Craig Trummel and Michael Stahl. The two began their tenure on the city council on Jan. 1 and will remain until Dec. 31, 2027.
As the council got down to brass tacks, they talked about the five short term priorities and a five long-term action items they hope will guide their work moving forward. Many of the goals centered around transportation and providing fun, safe and engaging spaces for residents of all ages.
Krista Loney
City Administrator Krista Loney said that a revising the City of Bingen Comprehensive Plan is something that Mayor Catherine Kiewit wants to complete before the end of her term in December 2025. The plan was last updated in 1997. Loney noted that funding will continue to be a large part of what gets completed.
“And the truth is that we’re gonna have to get some outside funding on a lot of this because we as a staff don’t have the expertise,” she said.
City staff is looking into building a covered area at the Amtrak platform and at the bus stop at 400 W. Stueben. The city also wants to offer free municipal WiFi, but Loney noted that very little work has been done, due to staff shortages and employee bandwidth.
Long term outlook
A project that was highlighted by both existing and new council members was a pedestrian walkway or bike trail along SR-141 between Bingen and White Salmon. Loney said they are working with the Washington Department of Transportation and the Complete Streets program. According to Kiewit, they are scheduled to receive funds for design in the 2025-27 Biennium.
In addition to the pedestrian walkway along SR-141, the city council want to build more sidewalks in parts of town that see heavy foot traffic. Loney emphasized that funds are going to be crucial in making the project a reality.
“Now, realistically, I would estimate [it would cost] about $18 to $35 million,” Loney said. “So it is a step in the right direction ... And then the next time it comes around, or whatever opportunities come around, we’re going to apply for those funds and just keep chipping away at it.”
The city is considering a railroad quiet zone and with the help of Sen. Curtis King, they have set aside some funds.
“We’re sitting on about $1.4 million right now,” Loney said.
City staff is waiting to see how the Hood River-White Salmon bridge replacement project shakes out before they make any moves.
City councilors discussed the empty lot along Steuben as a potential site for a new community center. The plan would be to construct a space for residents to host community meetings, offer more recreation opportunities and possibly additional space for city staff.
With these projects in mind, the city is also gearing up to celebrate their Centennial in April. In a proclamation, Kiewit stated: “Hereby proclaim that the year 2024 shall celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the City of Bingen. We congratulate The City of Bingen on the occasion of reaching this Centennial milestone. I offer my heartfelt gratitude to those who have come before us and for their contributions to our history. I wish our community members, businesses, visitors, and public officials much health, happiness, and good fortune in the coming century-may we celebrate many more years together as family, friends, and neighbors.”
A monthly schedule of events can be found on the city’s website. The first event is scheduled at the White Salmon Valley Community Library on Saturday, Feb. 9. Kiewit and the Gorge Heritage Museum President Dylan Ohnemus will open the “50 photos and 100 years of Bingen on the Columbia,” starting at 2 p.m. Community events will be held periodically all the way through December.
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