EYE ON JEFFERSON: County commissioners eye Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Act

The three Jefferson County commissioners will consider letters of support for reauthorizing the federal Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Act when they meet Tuesday.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.

Commissioners will consider sending letters to members of Congress urging reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools Act, which was originally passed in 2000 to compensate timber counties for low harvests.

The act provides about $3.1 million annually for Jefferson County roads, county staff said.

Commissioners also will be briefed with a comprehensive plan update.

Items on the consent agenda include:

â–  Calls for bids for the publication of county legal notices and for the Safe Route to School project.

â–  An agreement to amend the 2012 Dosewallips and Duckabush acquisitions by moving $50,000 from acquisitions to construction.

â–  A $59,736 contract with Jefferson Mental Health Services for a school-based health centers.

â–  An $88,685 contract for one year with Jefferson Mental Health Services to treat people with co-occurring disorders.

â–  Execution of a purchase agreement with Albina Asphalt of Vancouver, Wash., for $263,717 for liquid asphalt products.

Port Townsend city

The Port Townsend City Council will discuss the Howard Street extension project when they meet Tuesday.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at historic City Hall, 540 Water St.

City offices will be closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Staff will update the council on the Howard Street Extension project, for which 60 percent of the design is now complete.

The project update will include two options for the intersection of Howard Street and Discovery Road, one a T-intersection and the other a roundabout.

Documents that reflect the cost difference between the two intersection options and provided details on potential funding gaps will be presented.

The council also will consider policies for acquiring rights of way and slope easements for the project. The city has budgeted $343,193 for the acquisitions.

The council will hear an update on the water treatment projects, including a funding proposal.

It also will discuss the city’s upcoming Growth Management Act update and stakeholder groups for it.

The council also will consider:

■ Two loans of Community Block Grant funds — a loan of $20,000 for replacement of windows in the Port Townsend Athletic Club and a loan of $40,000 for improvements to the Good Templars Hall Building.

â–  Authorizing the city manager to submit grant applications to the state Department of Health for water system projects.

â–  Amending the municipal code to establish an exemption for new manufacturing businesses.

â–  Increasing the number of board members on the Fort Worden Lifelong Learning Center Public Development Authority.

Council office hours, during which members of the public can discuss any topic with a member of the City Council, take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the mayor’s office at historic City Hall, 540 Water St.

Other city meetings, which take place in conference rooms at City Hall, 250 Madison St., unless otherwise indicated are:

■ Council Finance and Budget Committee — 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, third-floor conference room. On the agenda are Mountain View Commons bonds.

■ Civil Service Commission —3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, second-floor conference room, to consider request for provisional officers and hear a police department update

■ Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Board special meeting — 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, first-floor conference room, to consider trail projects matrix planning.

■ Planning Commission — 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday in council chambers to discuss planned unit development provisions and trends for the growth management update.

Jefferson PUD

Jefferson County Public Utility District commissioners will discuss water connection policy and its strategic plan when they meet Tuesday.

The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. at 250 Chimacum Road, Port Hadlock.

Jefferson Transit

Jefferson Transit board members will hear reports about operations and maintenance when they meet Tuesday.

The board will meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Port Townsend Fire Station, 701 Harrison St.

Jefferson Healthcare

Jefferson Healthcare commissioners will hear presentations about three local ballot measures Wednesday.

The meeting will be at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the hospital auditorium, 834 Sheridan St., Port Townsend.

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