BINGEN — The Bingen City Council moved forward on a number of community projects after getting a clean bill of health for its sewer budget.
The March 19 meeting opened with engineering company Gray and Osborne requesting an additional $34,000 to accommodate delays to the Oak Street Reservoir project. Several manufacturer’s delays have added time and cost to the project, requiring a contract addendum. Gray and Osborne representative Jamin Ankney assured the board that the general contractor had been as flexible and accommodating as possible, but the delay was unavoidable due to manufacturer errors.
The council approved the amended contract for G & O’s administration of the project. The Oak Street Reservoir project replaces an aging 250,000 gallon water tank with an upgraded 318,200 gallon water tank. The report also praised the city’s acquisition of grant funds for capital improvements.
Ashley Emery of Peninsula Financial Consulting delivered a rate study for the community’s sewer and water treatment budgets. While Emery praised the health of Bingen’s sewer and wastewater treatment budget in general, he cautioned against waiting for a disaster to increase rates, and recommended modest, necessary, incremental increases. He also recommended an increase to the city’s sewer connection rate, which is particularly low for anywhere in Washington state. The council opted to review the rate study before making a decision about an increase.
The council voted to move forward on a sidewalk project on Alder and Cedar streets. Thanks to their receipt of a TAP, or Technical Assistance Program grant, the City of Bingen was awarded $100,000 for the engineering and design of five blocks of city sidewalk. The grant will cover the entirety of the engineering and design cost.
City councilors also heard a report on new Short-Term Rental (STR) tracking software, Granicus. City Administrator Krista Loney demonstrated the software, explaining that, “with this software, STR owners have no secrets from the state.” With one click, the platform tracks the reservation platforms each STR is using, such as Vrbo and Airbnb; administrators can tell who is already permitted. STRs in Bingen must pay permitting fees to operate legally. The majority of STRs in Bingen are already permitted.
Other project updates included the East Steuben Waterline Replacement, which is at risk of missing a deadline but still moving forward. This project is funded by a Public Works Board loan of $510,000 and grant of $90,000. The city is on track with its Middle Housing/Housing Element of Bingen Comprehensive Plan, and its SR-14 Water Main Extension, both of which are completely grant-funded. Finally, the scheduled DC Fast Charger project is on track, with a cost of only $19,000, thanks to a $271,000 grant.
Commented