Millwood plans road construction
The city of Millwood is planning more road construction this fall. However, the extent of the construction is yet to be determined.
During the City Council meeting Tuesday night, four potential 2011 road construction projects were prioritized. These projects are based on recommendations from Welch Comer and Associates Project Manager Matt Gillis.
Gillis reported the design for widening Grace Avenue and Laura Road is complete and ready to go out to bid. The project will widen approximately 620 feet of Laura from Grace to Frederick Avenue, and 330 feet of Grace from Bessie Road to Laura. Gillis estimates construction to be about $25,000.
Additionally, Gillis noted the three projects approved last fall are also bid ready. Two projects involve installing four speed humps, two on South Riverway and two on Bridgeport Avenue costing an estimated $5,000 per street. The third project is a raised intersection at Empire Avenue and Fowler Road, estimated at $8,000.
The total estimate for all four projects is $43,000. The city has an estimated $32,000 in the 2011 budget for road construction.
Gillis recommended putting all four projects out to bid, using one project as a base bid and listing the other three as alternates. Listing the others as alternates allows Council to select the projects based on priority and budget.
Following a suggestion by Councilman Glenn Bailey, the Laura/Grace project was approved as the base bid, combining the South Riverway and Bridgeport projects as one alternate, and the Fowler and Empire Avenue intersection as the second alternate.
Gillis said he would begin the process of soliciting bids for all four projects.
Mayor Dan Mork said the Council will hold a special meeting later this month after receiving the bids to finalize construction plans. Construction is expected to begin in October.
In other action, the council unanimously approved a multijurisdictional agreement for a sewage pretreatment program with Spokane County.
“This basically carves out the industrial pretreatment requirements for our existing interlocal agreement with Spokane County,” City Attorney Brian Werst said. “Spokane County has been required by state and federal authorities to focus more on the pretreatment element of their system.”
The Council also adopted a six-month moratorium on the establishment and licensing of medical marijuana dispensaries and collective gardens.
On July 22, changes to the state medical marijuana law prompted the city’s decision. Werst said there is a lack of understanding on how the new law is applied at a local level.
“The moratorium is a tool we should use to avoid the city putting itself in a position of granting rights to folks that might not have them in the future,” Werst said.
Before final adoption of the moratorium the city must hold a special hearing to get public testimony. The meeting is planned for next month’s council meeting.