County to advance appointments, school-transition agreements and local capital projects; Port of Port Angeles seeks county support for federal grant

During the Jan. 6 work session, Clallam County commissioners advanced several operational items to the Jan. 14 board meeting and briefed the board on a joint city/port USDOT preconstruction grant application.

Appointments: Commissioners reviewed a resolution to appoint Frederick Abt and Michael Blaise to the sheriff’s citizen advisory committee and asked staff to place the appointments on a future meeting agenda for formal action.

Developmental-disability transition program: County staff presented three separate agreements with local school districts to provide transition-to-employment services for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Staff said the three districts will receive the same suite of services and identical costs; county staff also said they are in discussions with two additional districts (Port Townsend and Crescent) but have not yet received commitments.

Capital projects and procurement: Public-works staff said a LTAC-funded $75,000 Park Ramp replacement project and an annual RFQ for professional services will go out for bid on Jan. 14; staff described local contractor availability and timing constraints tied to fisheries and seasonal windows.

Port of Port Angeles letter of support: Catherine from the Port of Port Angeles briefed the board on a re-submission to the U.S. Department of Transportation focusing on preconstruction, interchange and Marine Drive improvements intended to improve freight efficiency and nonmotorized safety. The port and city were designated a “project of merit” in the prior year’s competition and asked the county for a letter of support; commissioners agreed to sign a support letter on Jan. 14.

Ending: Commissioners instructed staff to place identified agreements and bid calls on the Jan. 14 agenda for formal action.