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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUPDATED CONSENT 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: Mark McCauley,County Administrator Date O� COMi j, Board of County Commissioners Q944¢~ oo 0� 1820 Jefferson Street m ti PO Box 1220 Port Townsend, WA 98368 O� Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3 SHING� 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. 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 . �,_AtilL udley-Nollette eidi Eisenhour Gre Brotherton District 1 District 2, Chair District 3 GRAYS HARBOR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Georgia Miller Rick Hole Vicki Raines District 1 District 2 District 3 Cc: Megan Cotton, Senior Policy Advisor,Office of the Governor The Honorable Maria Cantwell, United States Senator The Honorable Patty Murray, United States Senator The Honorable Emily Randall, United States Representative Senator Mike Chapman,State District 24 Representative Adam Bernbaum,State District 24 Representative Steve Tharinger,State District 24 0 Map Area ,' Clallam County Everett Olympic ` Jefferson National Narcounty!" Seattle ONP July- Sept 2025 Park r Big Creek repair ONP temporary bridge Gras Mason road closure Y County Tacoma removed seasonally Harbor County s it 4 Olympia <,, ,-Quin Lr r " . _. 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'''•,.. ,-1.---- 7.:*• ' •• A . ••*-.7 , 'f•ii .' . iiiiiio , • '+t 's:..+, .. - ••• NI ..t ., 4,4•+•.,-+-,,-,--• It., -. ,ON ssjo Board of County Commissioners 4k94w G 2 1820 Jefferson Street �� ti PO Box 1220 Port Townsend, WA 98368 iorb O Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3 'WINGS 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 jeftbocc@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 COMMISSIONER idleYollette H di Eisenhour reg therton District 1 District 2, Chair District 3 GRAYS HARBOR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Georgia Miller Rick Hole Vicki Raines District 1 District 2 District 3 Cc: Megan Cotton, Senior Policy Advisor,Office of the Governor The Honorable Maria Cantwell, United States Senator The Honorable Patty Murray, United States Senator The Honorable Emily Randall, United States Representative Senator Mike Chapman,State District 24 Representative Adam Bernbaum,State District 24 Representative Steve Tharinger,State District 24 1 0 Map Area . \at Clallam County oEverett Olympic Jefferson • National Nam County;k Park .� Seattle ONP July Sept 2025 o BigCreek repair& pNONP temporary bridge 4 Gras Mason road closure y County Tacoma removed seasonally �f Harbor County - Olympia i/ o ' Quilt Rer _. ." 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