Grants may be available to fix Millwood’s sidewalks

Sat., June 7, 2008

Valerie Putnam Correspondent

Hope came Monday night during the regular City Council meeting for Millwood’s deteriorating and nonexistent sidewalks.

Mike Gillis, from engineering firm Welch Comer and Associates, presented two funding options for sidewalk improvements to the council. He also provided an update on the design phase of the Argonne Corridor for next year’s reconstruction and rehabilitation project.

Both funding options are available through Washington State Transportation Improvement Board grants. According to Gillis, Millwood is eligible for both the Small City and Urban Sidewalk programs. Each grant requires the city to match a portion of the funding. Small City requires a 5 percent match and the Urban Sidewalk stipulates 20 percent.

Gillis plans on requesting an additional $120,000 from TIB for the necessary improvements. The city will know by early October whether funding is approved. “We’re very optimistic after meeting with them (TIB),” Gillis said.

This funding would be in conjunction with the $1.3 million dollar federal grant Millwood received for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Argonne road. The $1.3 million grant does not cover any additional improvements beyond the scope of the project.

The council voted unanimously to have Welch Comer pursue the two grants with a $2,500 cap on filing expenses.

Gillis also gave an update on the design of the Argonne Corridor project, set for construction next year. He estimates presenting the council with a preliminary cost estimate at the July meeting.

He also discussed working with Spokane County on coordinating traffic signals along Argonne. Although no solution has been determined, he did offer the council a possible alternative solution using video detection.

“It is more expensive to install initially,” Gillis said. “But cheaper to maintain over the years and more reliable.”

Assistant Fire Chief Larry Rider’s monthly report followed Gillis’s presentation. Rider asked Council if the signal coordination for the emergency traffic on Argonne is currently being addressed.

“Now that they are talking about linking the two lights for traffic flow, that is where we step in,” Rider said.

Maintenance supervisor Cleve McCoul requested Rider submit a request in writing so he can approach the County.

In other city news, Mayor Dan Mork announced the appointment of new city planner Tom Richardson. Richardson, one of 12 applicants, recently accepted the part-time position. Richardson has been filling in as needed during the recruitment process following Heather Cannon’s departure.

“It took a long time but it’s a very important job,” Mork said. “We did a lot of searching to fill this position. I think we’ll be happy with him.”

The council voted to adopt a resolution supporting the “No-Idle Zone” program.

The resolution came after last month’s presentation made to Council by Tom Bratteo, AmeriCorps volunteer with the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency.

The program seeks to reduce the amount of unnecessary vehicle idling in areas where children are exposed to unhealthy amounts of exhaust, such as school drop-off and pick-up areas, drive-through lanes and railroad tracks. The recommendation is to turn off vehicles idling more than 30 seconds, other than in traffic.

Signage will be posted in affected areas around Millwood.

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