The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCONSENT Joint Letters with Grays Harbor County JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONSENT AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners FROM: Mark McCauley,County Administrator DATE: May 12,2025 SUBJECT: Joint Letter with Grays Harbor County Regarding Repairing the Washout on South Shore Road STATEMENT OF ISSUE: On May 5,2025 a joint meeting was held by the Jefferson County and Grays Harbor County Commissions to discuss a joint letter seeking funding for repair of the South Shore Road washout. In addition to the six commissioners the meeting was attended by Sam Kim,County Administrator for Grays Harbor County and other Grays Harbor County staff.Jefferson County staff present included Monte Reinders, Public Works Director and Eric Kuzma,Assistant Public Works Director. ANALYSIS: After discussion, both commissions agreed that Jefferson County would draft the joint letter and work with Sam Kim to finalize a draft for consideration. Attached is the jointly developed letter.The same letter will be mailed to FHWA, Washington Division and WSDOT Local Programs. The Governor's Office will be copied on both letters. The Grays Harbor Board of Commissioners will approve and sign the letters at their May 13, 2025 board meeting. FISCAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: Approve and sign both attached letters. REVIEWED BY: S� 1-5� Mark McCauley ounty Administrator Date pV $OON�jjSs'! Board of County Commissioners c0 � 1820 Jefferson Street PO Box 1220 Port Townsend, WA 98368 �9S Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3 I IN NG May 12, 2025 Jay Drye, Local Programs Director WSDOT Local Programs P.O. Box 47390 310 Maple Park Avenue Olympia, WA 98504-7390 SUBJECT: Request for Financial Support for the Quinault South Shore Road Emergency Repair Dear Mr. Drye, We write today to jointly request FHWA Emergency Relief (ER) funding for Jefferson County's Quinault South Shore Road at milepost 1.3. A sizable section of the road washed out as the result of a significant storm in late 2024. A Detailed Damage Inspection Report was submitted to WSDOT/FHWA shortly after the event but we have yet to receive a funding determination. Minor erosion has continued since the initial washout with both road lanes now gone and a washout that measures approximately 125 feet by 40 feet. A photo of the washout is attached. This was the second of two washouts that occurred as the result of the same storm in Jefferson County late last year, the other being on the Upper Hoh Road, milepost 9.9. The Upper Hoh Road has since been repaired using funds committed by Governor Ferguson, together with local residents and businesses. To date we have seen minimal federal and state interest in repairing this FHWA ER eligible road, which primarily provides access to the Olympic National Park. Unfortunately, Jefferson and Grays Harbor counties, both being distressed rural counties, simply do not have the resources to complete this repair without federal or state aid. Olympic National Park reported approximately 334,000 visits to the Quinault area of the park in 2024. The Quinault South Shore Road together with the North Shore Road complete a loop that is a very popular tourist destination and a key economic driver within the region. The western ends of Jefferson and Grays Harbor Counties are very rural. Local businesses depend on those tourism dollars to offer services, pay their staff, and keep the local economy thriving. Families depend upon these tourism sector jobs as their primary source of income. Phone(360)385-9100 jeffbocc@coJefferson.wa.us Given that the Quinault area of the Olympic National Park is only accessible from the North and South Shore roads, the situation caused by the current washout/road closure will be greatly exacerbated this summer when Olympic National Park closes the North Shore Road for a large Western Federal Lands' Road repair project. During that closure there will be no access to the Olympic National Park Quinault area. A map showing the locations of the Quinault South Shore Road washout and the Olympic National Park North Shore Road closure is attached. We urge you to authorize the emergency funding for this important repair. We estimate the cost of the repair to be about $554,000. With funding committed, Jefferson County could promptly complete the road repair and prevent a prolonged closure that will be harmful to our local communities. Sincerely, JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Heather Dudley-Nollette Heidi Eisenhour Greg Brotherton District 1 District 2, Chair District 3 GRAYS HARBOR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Georgia Miller Rick Hole Vicki Raines Cc: Megan Cotton, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor Clallarn cal'am County Evereys Olympic • National _ Park Seattle ONP±June- Sept 2025 planned Big Creek ONP temporary bridge - Grays Tacoma repair/road closure currently/annually removed Harbor 0 County lympla .` . ver .Quinault R Jefferson county Upper Quinaul Grays Harbor County - River Bridge Ar s. o�eRoad Current Jefferson County - Jefferson County rSr Quinault South Shore Road - ONP Boundary o _ �' , _ Washout location - Milepost 1.3 '._jk ME „►„ Colonel Bob National Wilderness Area - Lake Quinault �paa ce Quinault Rain Forest Loop Drive-� Lake Quinault Lodge ;4�ro p Jar Scenic 31-mile loop route - - Olympic _,.. p National Forest r https.11www.nps.govlolymlplanyourvisit/visiting-quinault.htm �� ! https:/lwww.quinaultrainforest.com/index.htm/ 'a" v .�C! =�• 3`.�' ate+. �, � .a $� � i�yyy i � ; vv is. r �'�'?�` ,•', �, .�`'�i mix. •_ `�,._f�i f •. r, ��'S.j�t�- `r . `�iF le �,kZ kr 10, '� •�r'.r ri y t � t= � y =:a v 0V C0N ssr Board of County Commissioners 4w4~ �o 0 1820 Jefferson Street a0a L, PO Box 1220 Port Townsend, WA 98368 O Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3 �`S�II N Get May 12, 2025 Ralph Rizzo, Division Administrator FHWA Washington Division 711 Capital Way S., Suite 501 Olympia, WA 98501-1284 SUBJECT: Request for Financial Support for the Quinault South Shore Road Emergency Repair Dear Mr. Rizzo, We write today to jointly request FHWA Emergency Relief (ER) funding for Jefferson County's Quinault South Shore Road at milepost 1.3. A sizable section of the road washed out as the result of a significant storm in late 2024. A Detailed Damage Inspection Report was submitted to WSDOT/FHWA shortly after the event but we have yet to receive a funding determination. Minor erosion has continued since the initial washout with both road lanes now gone and a washout that measures approximately 125 feet by 40 feet. A photo of the washout is attached. This was the second of two washouts that occurred as the result of the same storm in Jefferson County late last year, the other being on the Upper Hoh Road, milepost 9.9. The Upper Hoh Road has since been repaired using funds committed by Governor Ferguson, together with local residents and businesses. To date we have seen minimal federal and state interest in repairing this FHWA ER eligible road, which primarily provides access to the Olympic National Park. Unfortunately, Jefferson and Grays Harbor counties, both being distressed rural counties, simply do not have the resources to complete this repair without federal or state aid. Olympic National Park reported approximately 334,000 visits to the Quinault area of the park in 2024. The Quinault South Shore Road together with the North Shore Road complete a loop that is a very popular tourist destination and a key economic driver within the region. The western ends of Jefferson and Grays Harbor Counties are very rural. Local businesses depend on those tourism dollars to offer services, pay their staff, and keep the local economy thriving. Families depend upon these tourism sector jobs as their primary source of income. Phone(360)385-9100 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us Given that the Quinault area of the Olympic National Park is only accessible from the North and South Shore roads, the situation caused by the current washout/road closure will be greatly exacerbated this summer when Olympic National Park closes the North Shore Road for a large Western Federal Lands' Road repair project. During that closure there will be no access to the Olympic National Park Quinault area. A map showing the locations of the Quinault South Shore Road washout and the Olympic National Park North Shore Road closure is attached. We urge you to authorize the emergency funding for this important repair. We estimate the cost of the repair to be about $554,000. With funding committed, Jefferson County could promptly complete the road repair and prevent a prolonged closure that will be harmful to our local communities. Sincerely, JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Heather Dudley-Nollette Heidi Eisenhour Greg Brotherton District 1 District 2, Chair District 3 GRAYS HARBOR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Georgia Miller Rick Hole Vicki Raines Cc: Megan Cotton, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor Wiwi Clallarn ,. County Everett Olympic Jeffer National Nat Court Park ONP±June- Sept 2025 ` planned Big Creek ONP temporary bridge - Grays Harbor Tacoma repair/road closure currently/annually removed County 0.lympia Jefferson county ✓' _ _ _ Upper Quinaul Grays Harbor county _ _ _ _ _ _ River Bridge t ti - ojeRoad ' Current Jefferson County - Jefferson County rSW Quinault South Shore Road ONP Boundary o�` K`r Washout location - Milepost 1.3 Colonel Bob National Wilderness Area Lake Quinault �0 Lake Quinault Lodge r0Ce Quinault Rain Forest Loop Drive - Scenic 31-mile loop route - Olympic National Forest 10 https://www.nps.govlolymlplanyourvisit/visiting-quinault.htm https:llwww.quinaultrainforest.com/i`ndex.htm/ r 114 k 1 ll s 1,1 - `may • J,t "`` .��.�,Man_�.. ,`. �S lL1�� ,� t��,� ,�#�, i4T.•r�• LA�4��- �F r�� f,�oh'�r •� y�`y � a�t ��ti, �a'.�t f' r��aL y �t.a'�'[L. t