PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners agreed to discuss further the idea of approving funds for the Olympic Peninsula YMCA to build an Early Learning Facility.

The YMCA is requesting $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the county to augment funding it has already accrued to build the $4,520,800 facility.

According to YMCA CEO Wendy Bart on Monday, the facility will help alleviate the lack of available childcare in the region, which currently meets the needs of only 30 percent of children younger than 6 years old who have working parents.

Moreover, a 2021 Clallam County Economic Development Council survey on childcare discovered that 78 percent of parents not currently working would return to work if they could find affordable, reliable childcare.

“As many of you know, we have a childcare crisis in both Clallam and Jefferson counties,” Bart told commissioners in the work session.

“We established a childcare task force and came up with a childcare growth strategy. There is a demonstrated need pretty much everywhere in Jefferson and Clallam counties.”

The 8,000-square-foot YMCA Early Learning Facility would serve up to 92 children from age 6 weeks to 5 years and would be built on property the YMCA already owns next to the Port Angeles YMCA.

The new facility is expected to create a minimum of 15 jobs for professionals in the early learning field.

“We need to shift the narrative that childcare is glorified babysitting,” Bart added.

Peninsula Housing Authority

Also on Monday, commissioners heard a plea from Peninsula Housing Authority (PHA) for $300,000 in ARPA funds to cover the shortfall in its Mutual Self-Help Building Program.

The PHA has assisted more than 120 low-income families to own homes with construction oversight over the past 15 years, said PHA Executive Director Sarah Martinez.

But during the past two years, the PHA had experienced challenges due to COVID-19, which she says severely impacted the Mutual Self-Help Building Program.

And thus the need for another $300,000.

“Our challenges have ranged from construction site closures due to the governor’s proclamations, staff turnover and lack of job applicants, supply chain issues, increased costs to do business, the time to construct the homes with the delays of construction materials and services, and the illness itself impacting program participants,” Martinez wrote in the PHA agenda item addendum.

Public hearings

On Tuesday, commissioners set public hearings for June 28 to review supplemental appropriations totalling $545,175 and $602,875 in debatable emergencies.

They also plan a public hearing on June 28 to review a draft ordinance with the Washington Water Service Company for two franchise agreements involving Elizabeth Lane and Sunshine Acres.

In other action, commissioners moved to their June 21 regular meeting:

• A 10-year agreement between the state Department of Health and Clallam County Health and Human Services to regulate water recreational facilities (swimming pools and spas);

• An application from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office for a $141,080 Marine Law Enforcement Patrol Vessel Replacement Grant to replace an aging lake patrol vessel with a new, optimally designed boat;

• A settlement between Clallam County and Scarsella Brothers, Inc., involving a permit violation and subsequent remedy;

• An amendment extending the contract for one year between the state Department of Ecology and Clallam County Public Works for the Clallam Bay — Sekiu Wastewater Treatment Facility.

They set a public hearing for July 5 to address the Department of Community Development Forestry Conversion Ordinance that addresses, among other subjects, reforestation requirements and six-year development moratoriums of harvested areas retained in forestry use.

Commissioners also listened to a status update to the Bullman Beach Water System, which is undergoing construction to complete a new water treatment system/plant.

The completion date for the system was originally scheduled for fall 2022, but complications have pushed the tentative pilot testing program date back for at least the next three months.

They discussed declining jail revenue and jail medical nurse vacancies with members of the Sheriff’s Office and temporarily closing Cooper Ranch Road between milepost 0.23 and 0.40 for 90 days or until Oct. 17 to replace a fish passage barrier in Kugel Creek.

Commissioners also approved a Victim Witness Assistance grant from the state Department of Commerce Office of Crime Victims Advocacy for $62,230 — with match requirements removed; and approved an All Hazards Alert Broadcast Siren agreement with the Washington State Military Department.

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Paul Dunn can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at paul.dunn@peninsuladailynews.com.