Votes at a glance: Commissioners approve salmon recovery grant, affordable-housing contracts, road closure and grant application
Loading...
Summary
At its Feb. 17 meeting the Thurston County Board approved a Commerce salmon recovery grant ($593,299.08), two Homes First contracts totaling $750,000 to preserve affordable rental units, authorized a temporary closure of Little Rock Road for bridge work and authorized a $9.3 million grant application for fish barrier removal on Green Cove Creek.
Thurston County commissioners on Feb. 17 approved multiple motions that will affect county planning, habitat restoration, housing preservation and local transportation.
Key approvals
- Commerce salmon recovery grant: The board approved a grant agreement with the Washington State Department of Commerce for $593,299.08 to support locally driven salmon recovery initiatives, including updates to the county’s critical areas ordinance and Thurston County’s integrated water planning. The board also authorized the director of community planning and economic development to execute the agreement and approve amendments reallocating funds among tasks up to 15%.
- Homes First contracts: The board approved two contracts with Homes First totaling $750,000 to repair and preserve 14 affordable rental units in Olympia and Lacey (work includes siding, insulation, roof and window replacement, furnace, replumbing and electrical upgrades). Dr. Jen Fryhite, director of public health and social services, said $582,416 of previously approved preliminary funding would come from an HB 1406 local sales-and-use-tax fund and the remaining $167,584 from SB 5386 local recording fees.
- Little Rock Road temporary closure: The board authorized the county engineer to temporarily close Little Rock Road Southwest at the Blooms Ditch crossing for a single closure period not to exceed 16 weeks during the window June 15–Oct. 3, 2026, to accommodate bridge replacement and intersection improvements. Public Works estimated the detour route would add 12–15 minutes and be about 7.5 miles.
- Green Cove Creek grant application: The board authorized Public Works to apply for a $9.3 million grant from the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration Program (administered through the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office) for Phase 2 of Green Cove Creek fish barrier removal at 36th Avenue NW. Staff said the work would open more than three-quarters of a mile of fish habitat and build on prior phase 1 investments.
Votes on these items were called during the meeting and carried; motions were moved, seconded and approved by the board.
