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County staff recommend broad federal-appropriations asks including Centennial Trail gap
Summary
County staff proposed keeping the federal agenda as a working document and recommended broad earmark requests (including a $2–3 million ask for the Centennial Trail/Argonne corridor) while flagging possible funding requests tied to Fairchild aircraft‑protection issues and mobile-home removal in APZ2.
County staff briefed commissioners on federal priorities and potential earmark requests, urging a flexible approach given rapidly changing appropriations timing in Congress.
Jeff and John (county staff) discussed possible earmark requests, including a 4th Road/second gate entrance at Fairchild and a multi‑phase request to close a gap in the Centennial Trail near Argonne and Upriver. Staff proposed a broadly scoped ask — roughly $2 million to $3 million — to allow fit with evolving project phases and recommended gathering community support letters and tribal or municipal endorsements to strengthen the application.
Staff also flagged a longer-term, higher-profile possibility involving mobile-home removal in Accident Potential Zone 2 (APZ2) at Fairchild Air Force Base and cautioned that some options (including eminent domain) are politically sensitive. They noted a possible 20% local match for some federal programs and discussed coordination of commissioner visits to Washington, D.C., in February to advocate for projects.
The board agreed to treat the federal agenda as a working document rather than a formally adopted resolution, citing rapidly shifting federal windows for submissions.
No formal federal earmark was approved during the briefing; staff will circulate a one‑pager for review, pursue letters of support and refine requests as studies and timelines develop.
