Town Hall meets about roads
At a Town Hall meeting March 25, more than 60 attendees from the Elk-Chattaroy area were assured Bridges Road in Elk was at the top of the county’s list to be considered as a Road Improvement District.
Most of the people present were upset at the prospect of paying additional assessments after paying property taxes for many years; yet, being tired of the unhealthy dust and auto-damaging, washboarded gravel roads, they were willing to consider anything.
When the county surveyed all of the complaints from the Elk area, officials decided to try to incorporate in the RID proposal several connecting roads, starting with Bridges Road. About mid-May, cards were sent to 199 parcel owners on Bridges and Madison roads announcing an RID meeting on May 28 and, a few days later, cards were sent to 204 parcel owners on Nelson, Jackson, Oregon, Jefferson and Fridegar roads announcing another RID meeting on June 4, both at Riverside High School. If this RID were accepted and approved, it would be one of the largest ever done in the county.
Spokane County Engineering and Roads representatives presented the information about RIDs to about 70 attendees at each meeting. Commissioner Todd Mielke also spoke and, at times, intervened. The County Engineering staff explained the RID process, including public hearings, voting and construction, but everyone just wanted to hear the bottom line – how much would it cost? The total cost for the Bridges/Madison section was estimated at $1,470,380 and $1,943,410 for the Nelson, Jackson, Oregon, Jefferson and Fridgar portion. The county would pay at least 20 percent and the remainder assessed to each frontage parcel would range between $5,500 and $6,500; secondary parcels $4,125 – $4,875 (75 percent) and tertiary parcels $2,760 - $3,250 (50 percent). The assessment could be paid all at once with no interest or, in payments with interest paid back over 10 years. (On a $5,000 payment assessment, payments would start at $900-plus a year and diminish a little each year until year 10 when the payment would be $540.)
Though many property owners were ready to pay whatever it takes to get their roads paved and be rid of the dust, no one was happy about the cost. Someone asked what happens if they can’t afford to pay the assessment. It was explained that the assessment would be a lien on the property, behind mortgage payments and property taxes. If not paid, owners could lose their homes.
Most people agreed that there should be a way to better maintain the gravel roads without the extreme expense for paving. RIDs cannot be used to oil, gravel, grade or maintain gravel roads, only pave them; the more expensive answer.
In July, Spokane County Engineering and Roads RID Administration will send out surveys to all 403 parcel owners. They will assess the feedback and decide whether there is support to go forward with a public hearing and election to vote on the RID.