City council approves first change to the Woodin Avenue Bridge construction

CHELAN – With only two agenda items, the Chelan City Council held its first meeting for the month on Tuesday, Sept. 11.

Before officially starting the meeting, Mayor Mike Cooney  asked the attendees for a moment of reflection for  “9-11 people who were affected by the loss and the tragedy, lets take a moment for them.”

With no public comment and with no special presentations, Cooney rapidly moved on to new business.

The first item that was addressed was a Woodin Avenue project change. Public Works Director Jake Youngren reported to the Council that Selland Construction has proposed a different pipe system for the domestic waterline being suspended under the bridge.  This change would result in a credit of $16,458, “the chance doesn’t affect the lifetime of the waterline, it’s just a different piping system,” explained Youngren.

Youngren then reported on the second agenda item, an utility extension agreement with Dan and Vicki Selin. The Selins have requested the extension of water and sewer utilities to service their property.

According to the City’s policy, utility services will be extended to properties located outside the City limits, however properties must remain inside the City’s urban growth area. Since such proposed property follows the guidelines, it is included in the City’s utility planning efforts.

Dan Selin was present at the meeting and was able to expand on his request and also answered questions the Council had.

“My wife and I are interested in developing this property. We bought three pieces of property totaling 93 acres, we are maximizing our orchards which is 50 acres. So far we have planted 25 acres, we are doing irrigation lines right now and planting the other 25 acres in this coming April,” said Selin.

He added, “we are hoping to have our home in one of the parcels, we have a home site for our orchard manager, we have some couple pieces that are right at the entry of off Crystal Drive which the land is not irrigable … we have two lots and we want to create an entry.”

His proposal is then to add utilities to the two lots right on the Crystal Drive entry, the Selins will also add 600 feet of road. “Those are the types of things my wife and I want to do,” Selin said.

Councilwoman Wendy Isenhart had a question regarding cost sharing. “Is the City  paying for it?” she asked. Which Younger clarified that Selin will be covering all costs, “we are going to make it look like a nice entry,” said Selin.

Cooney made the rest of the Council aware on the fact that there was been a lot of discussion regarding fixing intersections which have been affected by the reconstruction of the Woodin Avenue Bridge.

“It seem like it’s flowing well, but when it is opened and it has one lane the bridge has a whole different feel to it,” said Cooney.  

Pedestrian signage near the high schools will eventually be repainted by Public Works and Youngern also stated that the State is working on adding flashing cross walks at each school.

The Mayor also pointed out how confusing some of the flashing signage was near the Dan Gordon Bridge for some people. Due to this they will get that fixed and they will also add “caution school ahead or some kind of wordage to that.”

Councilmember Ray Dobbs also mentioned that some signage should be added near the Chelan IGA Market for those coming from Manson.

Youngren clarified that he will be working with the contactor and fixing all those issues for the duration of the project.

Also addressed in the meeting:
• Registration Drive in Chelan is scheduled for September 25, the drive is part of the National Vote of Registration Day, this event helps all those who are eligible to vote register.
There are three major locations in which this event will be held;
1. Chelan IGA Market 2. Manson Red Apple 3. Chelan Food Bank
The group will be also visiting the high school and help students who are eligible to pre-register. Posters for the event will be hung around downtown for more information in both Spanish and English. Spanish speaking volunteers will be at the different locations helping Spanish speaking locals. The group is also partnering up with Chelan Valley Hope and local churches to help those who can’t get out on the 25 and register.
• Councilmember Ray Dobbs  thanked the Council for signing a letter of support for a Link Transit Grant for local service in town. In summary, Link will provide a three part service program which could change. One will be a shuttle service in Chelan operating between Lakeside and Walmart, possible free of cost, it will run from May to October.  The second service is a Dial-Ride, the user will give Link a phone call the day before, they will get picked up and drop off anywhere in the Chelan Valley for one dollar, this service will be up and running in July and will run year round. The third piece is Bus Route 21, the service will remain the same. The services will be determined based on the approval of the grant which was submitted last Friday.
• Mayor Cooney wants to remind everyone about the City of Chelan Town Hall meeting on September 27, at the Chelan Senior Center, 534 E. Trow Avenue. The items that will be addressed include; Public interest in purchasing recreation land/ waterfront access, affordable housing update, Woodin Avenue Bridge Update and there will be also time to ask Mayor questions.