[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6213253,"mediaKeyId","3677118-6874e444da111b52a7f2a29b5a30a3f4","parentId",3677118,"title","Council hears update on regional effort for Pacific Northwest veterans cemetery selection","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2696000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677118-6874e444da111b52a7f2a29b5a30a3f4&start=2696&end=2696","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677118-6874e444da111b52a7f2a29b5a30a3f4/thumbnail_2696000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6213253/West-Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Council-hears-update-on-regional-effort-for-Pacific-Northwest-veterans-cemetery-selection","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213253-adcc3facfafb8c7d266a5055915461a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136328&Signature=DjtOm4eg9DgucfkVlR7McZPel49Ox-lz9KKiWFkhlcC4Fiq2Y0hXzZCHSr6G1Zq5Qzs1Z2E3jqa2oS06DOnNkJsinCR~AFNA8B2V4U9Lys-ZLNtt6ZXFPS2GxcQ9ndGu9tlwYjPBOxyTWqcInYJJkZAwfklV36lY2yKrM0LBkaqCmezmWRcLU8eeTEf7oaOtmO2kSwS8Gb8L-EaXczMvFb4tmlsN2Sq3szlP3gQB1Ey4~l3gljIFCP9h1svWBPt~LxMNrbeQlguvNpu-~qZ7IbXv-Hpv1x2nTa3Vpmd~sQBE~xcvYrL3Z2q1roufTjtR2bTT18HnIem9-MhcrfX2fQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of West Richland, WA","date","2025-06-04T13:04:30Z","article","Councilmember Mae Hayes told the West Richland City Council on June 3 that state officials have increased engagement on the proposed regional veterans cemetery and that the selection process is down to two candidate locations: Richland and West Richland.

Hayes said Olympia has attended recent local events to build community awareness and support and noted several upcoming public activities tied to the project, including an event at USS Triton Sail Park where organizers will provide tours and outreach about the cemetery. She also highlighted a state veterans license plate program that directs $28 of proceeds toward the cemetery effort.

Hayes emphasized that a final site selection had not yet been made and framed the communications as ongoing regional outreach rather than a decision by the council. She shared printed updates with the council and encouraged community support for the regional effort.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 3, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Councilmember Mae Hayes reported an Olympia update on the planned veterans cemetery in the Tri-Cities area, saying state engagement has increased and two candidate locations — Richland and West Richland — remain under consideration.","taxTitle","West Richland, Benton County, Washington","taxId",71679,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6213258,"West Richland council approves consent agenda, final plat and awards SR‑224 Red Mountain project",351,1474000,1825000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677118-6874e444da111b52a7f2a29b5a30a3f4&start=1474&end=1825","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677118-6874e444da111b52a7f2a29b5a30a3f4/thumbnail_1474000.jpg","/articles/6213258/West-Richland/Benton-County/Washington/West-Richland-council-approves-consent-agenda-final-plat-and-awards-SR224-Red-Mountain-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213258-bf08d6a5228b47c555b3b45e66616dd4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136329&Signature=YwYc2RjbO1ft8p~5cxj3Z9zMRgD9hBHilK4IxmIK80EhdZxF9X6zOZ~w7~JOS8PONVJIM8ZTbcMOUpA4h-5nd2zCamnnM0qfr~g86HAxsE3kG3dDGe2oMpI5BRqaqjBTqs4xFG3MxazAvMcPL3YcEIFa8CKLEnl24Hq1V~IW78UDCl40eSeEdSz5fJn0fPy1UdxjXsu69vg~6qIxkmBGGZJkDbXcAxhlrEQ96XO6bmGL-ydj1bVPFP5m1n1Sy~1fRNekLofv4k63UayMkj81794GrXKvDJJFQzNSIgIdGfzEQeqWu9iJt8OA844ZZnx5VvojhJWXPJ6Flr5VW7xSdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Richland City Council unanimously approved its consent agenda at the June 3 meeting, adopting three ordinances amending municipal code sections and several resolutions authorizing agreements and project approvals, and awarding the SR‑224 Red Mountain vicinity improvement project.

The consent agenda approved ordinances numbered 11‑25 (amending noise regulation exceptions, West Richland Municipal Code section 9.38.0.05), 12‑25 (amending cash deposit rules, section 20.08.070) and 13‑25 (amending illicit discharge detection and elimination, sections 13.82.040, 13.82.050 and 13.82.060). The council also adopted Resolution 25‑25 amending the master fee schedule for street cut permits; Resolution 26‑25 authorizing the mayor to execute a transportation mitigation agreement with the developer of the preliminary plat at the Estates of White Bluffs; and Resolution 27‑25 authorizing security and improvement agreements and approving the final plat for Watermark Phase 1 (file PLAT‑011‑2025).

Council also moved to award the SR‑224 Red Mountain vicinity project during the consenting process; the project is described in staff materials as a Washington State Department of Transportation corridor project and construction was announced to begin July 7.

The motion to approve the consent agenda carried unanimously. No members of the public addressed the consent items during the meeting; the council recorded all votes in favor.","The City Council unanimously approved the consent agenda June 3, adopting three municipal code amendments and several resolutions, including authorization for a transportation mitigation agreement and the award of the SR‑224 Red Mountain vicinity project; the council also approved the final plat for Watermark Phase 1.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6213263,"West Richland holds public hearing on 2026–2031 transportation plan; public works previews major water and road projects",345,1763000,2108000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677118-6874e444da111b52a7f2a29b5a30a3f4&start=1763&end=2108","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677118-6874e444da111b52a7f2a29b5a30a3f4/thumbnail_1763000.jpg","/articles/6213263/West-Richland/Benton-County/Washington/West-Richland-holds-public-hearing-on-20262031-transportation-plan-public-works-previews-major-water-and-road-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213263-1a0061f0d762c3b4ce043c03ab45dd75/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136329&Signature=kQfX2r8ruZq~url17XL-GBmSK1mSmZ1JdDHEWdfMfVSoFvo0RcRpMkaRuesCc7TWonm89KWoBmXTSbfA3qr~m-V~OlcGxUAINahsI3dC6cxKPWUU7nPWX85-XveSDX5acjxaZFk2AtECBTkQLsVIDmayCLbdGXxQI7jf1PUf9MfWKwvmw9cjT9hRJH9L336rJRu9POW1EYyGahp3msGAXH1De9-QxXL~rbkSK2-y-8V16LIacuctQHFjH4UMzILtGaPaFO--onZsBNT7e7edz0FwibIY9zLYRcxlud2fS2Dq7wAADmrUp3DEW-bGCJetyKeEd38XpCk2rj2NbOb5cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","West Richland city staff presented a first reading and opened a public hearing June 3 on the city’s proposed 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Program, describing changes from the prior TIP and soliciting public comment before a final adoption scheduled for the June 17 council meeting.

“Tonight will be a presentation, first reading, and public hearing on our update to our 2026–2031 transportation improvement program. This is something that we do on an annual basis. It's required to be adopted annually before July 1,” Public Works Director Roscoe Slade told the council.

Slade outlined items removed from last year’s TIP — including Keene Road Pathway Phase 4 (now constructed), Paradise Way extension phase 6 (to be built by a developer per a preliminary plat), and the SR‑224 Red Mountain Vicinity Improvement Project (a Washington State DOT-led effort). He said projects added to the proposed TIP include intersection improvements at Keene Road and Rupert Road, a Rupert Road realignment tied to Paradise Way extension, and a Keene Road/Paradise Way intersection modification informed by recent traffic modeling for nearby master-planned developments.

The hearing was opened and closed without public comment at 6:32 p.m. Slade told council the TIP will return on June 17 for a second reading and final adoption following regional comment periods in August and September.

Separately, Slade updated the council on other public-works activity. He said bid openings were held for Well 2R and Well 3R projects; both bids were at or below engineers’ estimates and will come to council on June 17 for award. He said those wells will add capacity roughly equivalent to service for “a little over 3,000 single-family residential homes.” Slade also said construction on the SR‑224 Red Mountain project — awarded earlier in the meeting — is scheduled to start July 7, with a public communications plan that will include mailed notices, website updates and social media information for affected residents.

The council received the presentation; the public hearing produced no comments. The draft TIP will return for council action at the June 17 meeting.","City staff opened a public hearing and first reading on the 2026–2031 six-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), noting planned intersection upgrades and road realignments. Public Works reported bids received for two new wells and said construction of the SR‑224 Red Mountain project is scheduled to start July 7.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6213268,"Mid-Columbia Libraries tells West Richland council patrons check out nearly 300,000 items last year",1387,148000,1535000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677118-6874e444da111b52a7f2a29b5a30a3f4&start=148&end=1535","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677118-6874e444da111b52a7f2a29b5a30a3f4/thumbnail_148000.jpg","/articles/6213268/West-Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Mid-Columbia-Libraries-tells-West-Richland-council-patrons-check-out-nearly-300000-items-last-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213268-bb04cfe91f738da0dd699a84943af193/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136329&Signature=frA5B4i1TdV2g6RetuqvzAitmxVcif7o9qm6h6Zu93eZh8gsT0rMPD-ctV~5WjY2IinJg4KV9yjfDaZx26qOiJjzM8nYQzjt3sAx~G6bdAvWYhbAx7Bgozvgk8QWz3~5b7zvy1HRseqsYPKnNpK3BRaWFwXlhYj8VM2CD97JLN75oBi26TmJR1Zkgp~0Lq-qog5VwGyiK-ErK3Ch0HWbkKgEADR4OVwJQ5JZfOsBqLHnd5PPy7LE~lhYgE5UzVKixEsD3QuKzX~0yNGAUw5JrGm30hig46N9pVxCoy2drbe-3uV4HVvvMwdMeXyvuj~sPvSzV8SWu-wshu6pz3dQkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mid-Columbia Libraries representatives presented the system’s annual report to the West Richland City Council on June 3, saying West Richland residents checked out roughly 295,000 items last year and that 294 local residents completed the library’s customer-satisfaction survey.

The report, delivered by Sarah Schwann and Amy Schmidt of Mid-Columbia Libraries, said the West Richland branch’s physical collection is valued at about $904,000 and that the city’s residents accounted for roughly 30% of systemwide checkouts. “Mid Columbia Library's mission is to empower people, support learning, and strengthen community through literacy, enrichment, and connection,” Schwann told the council.

The presentation put those numbers in context: 96% of West Richland survey respondents reported being “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the libraries’ services, and 94% said the library plays an important role in lifelong reading. Amy Schmidt, identified in the report as branch manager for West Richland, said the branch has restored several programs paused during the COVID-19 period, added a baby story time and extra preschool and adult programs, and is seeing steady attendance at events such as therapy-dog story times and a chess club.

Schwann and Schmidt described the library’s broader strategy in three areas — literacy, enrichment and community connection — and said the system is piloting a 15-month reciprocal-borrowing partnership with nearby library systems called the Great River Library Partnership. The program currently covers physical items only; Schwann said Mid-Columbia’s digital collection is funded separately and is not included in reciprocal borrowing to protect taxpayer investments.

On digital services, the presenters emphasized that West Richland residents are heavy users of the library’s e-book and audiobook platforms. Schwann explained publishers’ licensing models make digital materials more expensive to maintain than physical books and that the system is monitoring those costs. She also noted the library offers Libby (the digital lending app) and a movie-streaming benefit called Canopy with a limited monthly allowance for patrons.

Schmidt estimated the West Richland branch to be the system’s third busiest and described outreach efforts such as curbside pickup and daily courier service among branches. The presentation cited a collection-value figure and related customer-savings anecdotes drawn from circulation receipts; Schwann said a single patron’s long-term use of the library had saved them thousands of dollars compared with buying materials.

Council members asked for clarifying figures during and after the presentation. When Councilmember Fred Brink asked how many West Richland residents completed the survey, Schwann answered, “294.” Councilmember John Smart asked whether the 295,000 figure included both physical and digital checkouts; Schmidt replied it did.

The council received the report; no formal action was taken at the meeting. The presenters encouraged residents to use Libby and highlighted summer programming with a gaming theme to engage children and adults.","Mid-Columbia Libraries staff reported to the West Richland City Council that West Richland residents checked out about 295,000 items last year, the branch’s collection is valued at roughly $904,000, and 294 local residents completed a customer-satisfaction survey showing 96% overall satisfaction.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council hears update on regional effort for Pacific Northwest veterans cemetery selection

West Richland council approves consent agenda, final plat and awards SR‑224 Red Mountain project

West Richland holds public hearing on 2026–2031 transportation plan; public works previews major water and road projects

Mid-Columbia Libraries tells West Richland council patrons check out nearly 300,000 items last year