Dayton Chronicle - Your Hometown News Source

DAYTON–Emergency Management Director Ashley Strickland has submitted his resignation, effective May 20.

Strickland presented a brief letter of resignation to the Commissioners during the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners on May 2.

Strickland recommended that they "allow Misty [Yost] and Desi [Meza] to run the office for six months and then ask them if they want another director on or keep the office separated.

"My salary is obligated to three different grants that can't all go away so some that will have to be split between the two of them," Strickland said. "I think they are set up to succeed. To be honest, they're not positive they want to jump in and do it. I am positive that they can do it. I've explained to them that a lot of things they've seen me do are over and above and outside of the job description. So, my expectations after I'm gone is that they will take everything back to just strictly doing the job description."

In other business, Amber Phinney and Jeremy Weiland, from Public Works, provided several updates, the Commission adopted a county debt policy and, in the evening, held a public hearing about a proposed speed reduction past milepost one on South Touchet Road.

Public Works Director Amber Phinney announced that the County finally received its first payment of over $6000 from FEMA for the flood of 2020 with another large payment coming of $94,000 within the month and other payments expected.

Several Public Works project updates were provided by County Engineer Jeremy Weiland. On South Touchet Road, Anderson Perry will be doing survey work on the right of way. The County is working to procure the right of way on Vernon Street Bridge while at the same time getting the permits renewed so construction work can be put out to bid later in the fall. The permitting is almost complete for construction work to replace the deteriorating Starbuck Bridge and contractor work is expected to go out to bid early next year.

The County also has to acquire the right of way which includes purchasing a portion of the park. Encroachments to the right of way are being addressed along Lower Hogeye Road of the Boldman Grade to prepare for road improvements while design work is being completed. Public Works is coordinating with WSDOT for the closeout of the intersection project of Whetstone Road and Highway 12. They still need to determine a final checklist and to work through an issue with adjacent property owner Mark Lambert.

Work on the Whetstone Bridge rail on Turner Road is progressing. Kellogg Hallow Phase 2 in currently being surveyed. A request for qualifications for a design consultant work has been released for the work on Tucannon Road from Turner to Trump-Tucannon. Bosley Bridge repairs are pushed back to 2023 because of needed diversion work in the river before beginning construction. Also, a right of way needs to be established to perform some of the work.

The Trump North Touchet Bridge project is waiting on funding from FEMA. Design plans are almost complete for the erosion repair projects from the 2020 flood on the Baileyburg, Huntsville and Vollmer bridges. Coates Creek structural repair project requests will be submitted to the various agencies. A request for payment for architectural engineering and design has also been submitted to FEMA.

Advertising for a consultant for the South Touchet Bridge rehabilitation is being sought to be filled this month to fulfill the work obligation in June 2023. Funding has also being pursued for work on Eaton and Baileysburg bridges.

Weiland also gave an update on the courthouse HVAC project. The contracted engineering consultant is working on the design drawings based on feedback from the County and also changes to the courthouse since the initial drawings were sent to them. With the funding currently available, they are trying to get the project moving towards construction.

A grant was awarded from the Department of Agriculture for the fairgrounds pavilion restroom project for reimbursement for work on the sewer and water service lines. Another grant request has been made for $25,000 for outside restroom access.

A debt policy was adopted by the Commission as drafted by Treasurer Carla Rowe and reviewed by Attorney Dale Slack to establish guidelines to "ensure that debt is issued both prudently and cost effectively." A debt policy is standard in Washington counties.

The BOCC voted to approve lowering the speed on the South Touchet past mile post one from 50 mph to 40 mph for the remainder of the paved and from 35 mph to 25 mph on the gravel portion. The decision will be drafted in a resolution for approval at the next regular meeting on May 16.