HomeMy WebLinkAbout031125 email - Upper Hoh RoadALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
I appreciate the effort for possibly finding the funding to get the Upper Hoh Road repaired and open for the main tourist season. However, I have some questions:
1. Can you please explain the mechanism for the funding source? It sounds like this is a Public Infrastructure Fund grant.
2. Why is there a privately funded match associated with monies to be provided by the State of Washington, which I assume is sourced through taxpayer's monies?
3. Why can't Jefferson County and Clallam County take the monies required for the match, $10k each, from their already budgeted county roads funds as provided by the taxpayers?
It seems strange to me that, for a project that is for the repair of a county access road, an activity that would be considered a basic public necessity and a basic responsibility of
a local government, that private funding would be required at all in order to accomplish this basic public requirement. This methodology creates a disturbing precedent for how essential
projects that should be already funded and budgeted for utilizing already taxed public monies, must entertain putting the hand-out for even more private funds. I understand that everyone
is in a bind right now because of varying degrees of uncertainty related to funding sources, but even in this particular case, I don't agree with private monies needing to be input
in order to accomplish the end goal of fixing the Upper Hoh Road.
A good compromise, however, given the circumstances, would be to make a provision to have the private funds reimbursed to the donors once a more appropriate funding source can be attached
to this particular project. This could also potentially increase the cash flow needed in order to get the funds released sooner, thus achieving the matching funds requirement.
In conversations I have had with those who are very knowledgeable about the section of the Upper Hoh Road that has washed-out, as well as the extent of the wash-out, there is concern
that the $1.2 million budget is not nearly enough to accomplish the repair, and that the potential for exorbitant change orders related to this project is inevitable. In other words,
this project could end up costing significantly more. How are you going to deal with this as a realistic possibility? Will you have to go back to private funding sources to fill the
gap?
Also, was there a consideration of permanently diverting the road inland from the river so that a more reliable passage along this section of Upper Hoh Road could be established? This
could potentially be a less expensive option, especially over time, and would promote more permanent reliable access along the section of road that is washed-out, especially with the
uncertainty of the effects of climate change.
Lastly, why hasn't there been more of an effort to re-establish the road section washed-out along the Dosewallips River that washed out in 2002? What do you think the economic impact
of not having that road open into the Olympic National Park has been for the residents of Jefferson County, specifically Brinnon?
Looking forward to your response.
Mark L Grant
Jefferson County