GOLDENDALE — Klickitat County Commissioners responded to a longstanding request to install edge striping on Snowden Road, but in order to do so in good conscience, they had to do others, as Klickitat County Engineer Seth Scarola told commissioners.
"My suggestion, in looking at this list,” he said, “if we were going to stripe that section of Snowden Road that's being asked, we also need to stripe that portion of Bickleton Highway and Canyon Road, because they also have high accident occurrences on those segments of road."
The list in question was one that ranked road segments in the county for factors that led to a higher chance of run-off-the-road accidents. Those included poor visibility in fog and other bad weather conditions, narrow roads, no shoulders and lots of curves. Snowden was not at the top of the list, and commissioners realized that if they striped Snowden and not road segments with more off-the-road accident factors, they could expose the county to liability if an accident happened on the other roads.
Commissioners were concerned that once begun, this would become an annual expense, because the newer stripes only last a year. They decided to go ahead because this year they had the funds. There are grants that would cover the cost of thermoplastic striping which is three times the cost but lasts five years, but the next grant cycle isn't until 2027 and wouldn’t be available until the following year. They're hoping the regular striping available now would hold up until then.
They also planned a wastewater rate hearing for Aug. 18 in Dallesport with a question-and-answer session to follow.
And Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Cranston asked for permission to increase the salary range offered to attract a new deputy prosecuting attorney.
"We've had a very limited number of applicants,” she said. “So far, we haven't been able to fill that position. At this time, I'd like to post for DPA (Deputy Prosecuting Attorney) pay grades 1 through 3, with the hope that opening it up to more experienced attorneys might get more applicants. We have the budget; we're not asking or any additional funds."
But at the same time, she reported, "For the other position that's open in our office — public records administrator — we have 28 applicants, definitely qualified applicants. We're very happy with that."
In the afternoon session, the commissioners approved a resolution to advertise a supplemental budget hearing for Aug. 4, approved a complex Health Department contract amendment after receiving clarification, and agreed to sign a letter of support for Republic Services' bid for Seattle's waste contract.
Under the consent agenda, commissioners approved:
• GeoComm GIS Data Maintenance Services Project Agreement
• Behavioral Health Professional Services Agreement—Merle
• Klickitat County Health Department Food Worker Card Agreement
• Klickitat County Health Department Consolidated Contract 25-27 Amendment 14
• Approve and sign the two original copies of the Washington Military Department Homeland Security Grant Program Agreement Number E26-33
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