By Paul Loveless, Steilacoom Town Administrator
Upcoming Meetings:
- Council Meeting – August 20, 2013 at 6:30 PM at Town Hall.
- Preservation and Review Board – August 28, 2013 at 6:30 PM at Town Hall.
- Civil Service – September 5, 2013 at 3:00 PM at the Community Center
- Planning Commission – August 26, 2013 at 6:30 PM at Town hall.
Council Future Agenda “Look-Ahead” Issues:
Copies of the Agenda and staff reports are available at all Town facilities once published.
The Agenda and Council meeting minutes are posted to the Town’s official website
Planned Town-wide Power Outage:
Upgrades being implemented this summer on Tacoma Power’s transmission system will affect the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) / Steilacoom substation; the sole source of power for the Town of Steilacoom. In order to maintain compatibility with Tacoma’s transmission system, adjustments are needed to the BPA substation transformer. To accommodate this work, an 8-hour power outage has been scheduled for Monday, August 19, 2013. Power to the Town of Steilacoom and Ketron Island is scheduled to be shut off at 8:00 a.m. and restored by 4:00 p.m.
In an effort to take advantage of the BPA/Tacoma Power outage, the Town has scheduled contractors to perform maintenance work and install equipment upgrades on the Town’s side of the substation. Additionally, Town crews will be doing their own maintenance work in the substation along with replacing equipment in the field. Completing this work during the scheduled outage will avoid the need for future outages related to these maintenance and upgrade projects.
Questions about the outage and planned work should be directed to Public Works Director, Mark Burlingame at (253) 581-1912.
Farmers’ Market:
Wednesdays 3 – 7 pm — August 21 -August 28.
Summer Concerts:
Next Wednesday, August 21, the Town will present the Navy Ceremonial and Brass Band in Pioneer Park starting at 6:30 PM. Please remember no tents or alcohol are allowed in the Park.
Saltar’s Point Park:
Saltar’s Point Park remains closed. If anyone notices trespassers on the beach, please contact Public Safety using the non-emergency number – 253 798-4721.
Fire Danger Due to Hot, Dry Weather:
It has been a cool, wet spring but we are now finally entering the summer season. Soon the green spaces and forested areas will dry out and the fire danger will move to a high level. We would like to remind residents that burning is not allowed on public property. This includes the trails and beaches along Puget Sound, where the danger of fire burning up the banks and into the residential areas is high during the summer months. Please use extra caution and help us keep Steilacoom safe!
Comprehensive Plan Update:
Your input is needed to update to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. Over the next several months, the Planning Commission will review the Comprehensive Plan by topic, and public input is vital to the success of this exercise. Topics to be covered are General Policies and Public Service on August 26; the Environment on September 23; Development Patterns on October 28; Housing on November 25; Economic Development on December 9 and Transportation on December 23. All meetings will be at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall, 1717 Lafayette Street. More information is available from Town Planner Doug Fortner at 581-1912 or doug.fortner@ci.steilacoom.wa.
Want to receive advance notice of Planning Commission meetings and hearings by email? You can sign up at any Planning Commission meeting or send an email request to doug.fortner@ci.steilacoom.wa.
Scarecrow Fest Coming Soon:
The recent rains are a reminder that Fall is just around the corner That means the STEILACOOM GARDEN CLUB’S Scarecrow contest is just a few weeks away. Scarecrows may no longer keep pesky crows out of cornfields, but they can be a fun and colorful way to welcome fall. To enter, just sign up at the bulletin board between Key bank and Bair Bistro, at the Steilacoom Community Center or by e-mail to hopkinstei@aol.com Then, create a scarecrow depicting this year’s theme, CELEBRATING THE APPLE ( the annual Apple Squeeze is Oct. 6th). Scare crows need to be displayed at your home or business by Oct.1st and winners will be notified by the 15th. Be on the lookout too for a return of some other spirited scarecrows hanging around the downtown area – tis the season for fun
Public Safety:
Training:
Sgt. Rodriguez and PSO Derig participated in two days of SWAT Training this week.
Staffing:
PSO Rettig has accepted a position with Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Salem, OR. His last day is scheduled for September 3.
We will be contacting the top 15-18 candidates on the entry level list. We expect to conduct entry level oral boards in early October with a target CJTC Academy date of February 2014.
Be Alert During the Warm Weather:
With the warm weather, we have seen an increase in park activity. Please remember to secure your vehicles; if possible, do not bring valuables to the parks or leave them in your car; if you do leave items in your car, please do not leave them where they are clearly visible.
Although it is tempting to leave windows and doors open to provide increased air flow, please remember to secure your homes if you are not present or if you are in your yard.
Countywide Stage 1 burn ban effective July 29:
Due to the continuing hot and dry weather, Pierce County Fire Marshal Warner Webb announced that a Phase One burn ban was implemented at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, July 29.
All burning permits are suspended and outdoor burning is prohibited, except for small recreational fires less than three feet in diameter, fires in barbecues and cooking appliances, outdoor fireplaces and campfires in approved fire pits and locations at established campgrounds.
Persons with approved Department of Natural Resources burn permits are advised to call 800-323-BURN (2876).
For additional information or instructions, please contact your local fire department or the Pierce County Fire Marshal’s office at (253) 798-7179
Public Works:
Streets and Storm:
Sequalish Street Project;
The Sequalish Street Reconstruction Project bid opening was on August 13th. Twelve bids were received with the apparent low bidder being Tapani, Inc, of Battleground, Washington at $2,830,108.24. Staff will be recommending to Council at the August 20thmeeting that they be awarded the project.
Main Street Overlay Project:
The Main Street overlay project contractor striped on Tuesday and the contractor worked the remainder of the week raising structures and performing punch list items. We anticipate this project should be completed by the end of next week.
Lafayette Street Overlay Project:
95% design plans were provided by the engineers and submitted to WSDOT for review. Additionally, the environmental documents are also currently being reviewed by WSDOT. Once WSDOT approval is obtained, the project will be advertised.
The crew continues noxious weed control work, detention/retention pond maintenance, street sweeping, and performing right-of-way maintenance.
Electrical:
The Main Street and Lafayette Street electrical improvement project is substantially complete. The contractor is currently and will continue to work through next week on punch list items.
Crew Emphasis:
The crew focused on testing the new wire on the Main/Lafayette Street project in anticipation for crossing-over to the new wire next week. Additionally, they coordinated with the various parties involved with the August 19, 2013 power outage.
Water/Sewer:
Crew Emphasis:
The Crew arranged for medically related emergency generators associated with the power outage. Additionally, they assisted the mill owner in repairing a line damaged near the mill.
Parks and Grounds:
The crew assisted with the set-up for the Farmers’ Market and performed other parks and buildings maintenance activities.
Other:
Hudson Bay Day & Salmon BBQ:
Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 25th for Hudson Bay Day and Salmon BBQ at the DuPont Fire Department, across the street from the original 1843 Hudson Bay Fort Nisqually Site. This free event is being held from Noon – 4:00 PM and features live music, kids activities, historical demonstrations, reenactors, a tribal blessing and more! Historian Drew Crooks will take guided tours to the original 1843 Fort site and visitors can view Ezra Meeker’s covered wagon and talk with Buffalo Soldiers. There will be a salmon BBQ on-site with adult meals at $15 and kids for $5. Hot dog meals will also be available.
The Hudson Bay Day is proudly sponsored by the DuPont Historical Society and the DuPont Tourism Board. The 1843 Fort Nisqually site is open to the public courtesy of the Archeology Conservancy. For more information call DuPont Museum Coordinator Linda Cumberbatch at (253) 964-2399 or (253) 882-5942 or visit www.dupontmuseum.com.
Monument Dedication Service:
On Thursday, August 22, a dedication service is scheduled at 7:00 PM at the Steilacoom monument tower just slightly west of the corner of Wilkes and Lafayette in recognition of its becoming a National Historical Site by the United Methodist Church.
The main speaker will be Robert Williams, General Secretary of the National UMC Archives and History from Madison, New Jersey. In addition to his address, there will be a brief history and music. While some chairs will be available, we encourage you to bring along one as well.
The monument tower was erected by the Washington Historical Society and Puget Sound Methodist Episcopal Church in 1908 on the site of the first Protestant church to be built north of the Columbia River. It was to honor the work of Rev. John F. DeVore and his members who built the church in 1853 when Washington had just become a US Territory.
Turn lane to be added on Chambers Creek Road at 64th Street West:
A turn lane will be added on Chambers Creek Road at 64th Street West in University Place to relieve traffic congestion at the intersection. Construction will begin Aug. 15 and is expected to be complete in the beginning of September. Motorists should expect delays in the immediate vicinity of the work.
Traffic currently backs up on Chambers Creek Road as cars wait to turn left onto 64th Street West. The project will provide designated left and right turn lanes from Chambers Creek Road.
The project comes following a traffic study conducted on Chambers Creek Road to measure the impact the Chambers Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion would have on commuters. The expansion project is projected to temporarily add an estimated 400 workers at the peak of construction beginning in December.
“The ongoing expansion of the plan was the impetus for the project, as we expect increased construction traffic in the area,” said Ryan Dooley, Pierce County Public Works and Utilities project manager. “We worked with the City of University Place to develop a good solution that will provide a long-term benefit to the community after the expansion project is complete in 2016.”
Active Construction Inc. is the contractor. The construction contract cost is approximately $130,000.