Photo courtesy: Lake Chelan Now.
Citizen opinions are in. The city of Chelan Transportation improvement project survey shows the priority issue among respondents is traffic congestion, followed by improved evacuation routes in the event of a wildfire or other emergency, and pedestrian safety.
Chelan Mayor Erin McCardle reported that bridge improvements "is a very passionate project for our community" with over 70% of citizens participating in the survey favoring returning the bridge to a two-way thoroughfare.
The mayor says the city wants to continue the discussion with citizens, encouraging more comments.
"Two-waying the bridge is the most expensive project and the other project, reversing the direction outbound on the bridge, is sort of our least expensive option," said McCardle. "Maybe there's something in the middle?"
The city has proposed creation of a Transportation Benefit District (TBD) funded by a three-tenths of one percent sales tax increase. Creation of the taxing district and the associated sales tax proposal to pay for future road improvements is expected to bring in about $900,000 a year from citizens and visitors alike. Voters will decide on the TBD idea on the November 5 ballot.
Chelan City Hall has been undergoing some renovations as part of ongoing facilities improvements. The city council has decided to obligate some of its taxpayer funded American Rescue Plan Act, federal pandemic relief money, to hire consultants to conduct a city facilities study., a long term plan on what needs to be done to city buildings to provide the necessary services to a growing community.
"We want to meet the basic standards," Mayor McCardle said about what the city wants to learn from the facilities study. "Do we have a safe and healthy environment for staff to work in and do we have enough space for future needs."
"This is how much we feel out staff is going to grow, this is what we need for emergency operations and what are alternative options." city Communications Director Chad Coltman clarified on what the study may determine.
Your new Chelan utility bills will include a new survey, asking about the quality of your in-home or business drinking water? The city of Chelan and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency want to know the type of pipes that may be used to get water to your home or business.
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