BINGEN — The Bingen City Council opened its May 7 meeting by discussing concerns about a traffic snafu: The corner of Ash Street and Highway 141. A citizen expressed concern about folks not coming to a full stop, and instead, embracing the gently curving nature of the intersection to simply glide through the stop, which is a violation.
This problem is further exacerbated, not by people obeying the law, according to Mayor Catherine Kiewit, but by people who then pass them because they are going the speed limit. Though 24/7 blinking lights proved to be too costly, locals and visitors alike can expect a crackdown on their incomplete stops.
The next order of business was a report from Skyline Hospital CEO Matt Kollman. New to the role as of August 2023, Kollman gave a snapshot of the local facility, and provided the council with his team’s goals and challenges the hospital faces. The hospital is limited to 25 in-patient beds, Kollman reported, but does a great deal of outpatient surgery and provides many other services. They see 11-20 patients in the ER in a typical 24 hour average. Kollman reported that the hospital wants to grow the services it provides in the same way they have recently expanded their breast imaging services; Skyline Hospital now hosts the only Breast Imaging Specialist in The Gorge. They are adding podiatry services as well. Kollman stated that their growth efforts are only hindered by the challenge for staff to find affordable housing and childcare.
The council then heard an update on the Hood River - Bingen Bridge Project. Lead Engineer Mike Shannon gave an overview of what’s been done, and what’s next. A particular point of interest was the width of the new bridge compared to the old: The existing bridge has two 9.5-foot lanes plus very small shoulders, for a total width of 25 feet. The planned new bridge will feature two 12-foot lanes, plus separate bike and pedestrian paths, for a total width of 56 feet.
In final discussions, council decided to reopen its Lodging Tax Grant application for a mid-year cycle. The applications will open in June, be due three weeks later, and be reviewed by council with awards announced in mid-July.
The Bingen City Council next meets on May 21 at 6 p.m.
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