MEDICAL LAKE — The City Council finalized several projects during their July 20 meeting. The council had originally planned on meeting in person, but new requirements meant they needed to offer Zoom options as well. The city is purchasing the equipment so meetings can follow a hybrid model, and the next meeting should have an in-person and Zoom option.
Council approved an interlocal agreement for provision of water between the city and Four Lakes water district. Normally the city provides Four Lakes with emergency water, but with the addition of the Spokane intertie, they can provide 50 gallons per minute continuously. If the city’s relationship to the Spokane intertie ever ends, the city is no longer required to provide the water to Four Lakes.
The council approved the Washington state six-year transportation improvement plan, which had two construction projects forecasted for 2022. Both are two-inch overlays. One is along Barker Street from Lefevre Street to Stanley Street and the other is on Washington street from Lake Street to Fellows Street. The plan accounts for planned projects through 2027.
On a similar note, the council approved a contract for the Lake Street overlay project. Unlike a normal two-inch overlay, the construction company will grind down two inches of the original road before laying the asphalt down. That way there will be no change in elevation on the section of Lake Street between Lefevre Street and Hallett Street.
On a different note, a sidewalk project on Hallett Street is being postponed. When the city opened the project for bidding, the bids came in too expensive. Engineers believe they will have more luck in the spring, so they rejected the bids for the project.
The council discussed ideas for the allocation of their American Rescue Plan Spending (ARPA) funds, which were awarded several months ago. The discussion is ongoing, but some of the ideas revolved around broadband infrastructure and possible utility bill relief. They also revisited a decision made at the last meeting, which was to have deputies patrol city parks on the weekend. The council agreed that it was an effective strategy when it comes to enforcing park rules.
Riley Kankelberg can be reached at [email protected].
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