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Walla Walla County debates use of economic‑development sales tax for road and interchange projects; approves $500,000 for Mill Creek flood work
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Summary
County commissioners debated three requests to spend the county's economic‑development sales tax funds on Fish Hook Park Road (concrete upgrade), the US‑12/Clinton interchange (design/right‑of‑way) and Mill Creek CAP‑205 (flood reduction). The board tabled or set aside two items for more coordination and approved $500,000 for Mill Creek (split $250,000 loan/$250,000 grant).
Walla Walla County commissioners on Feb. 9 weighed competing requests to use the county's economic‑development sales tax revenue for three infrastructure projects, approving only the Mill Creek flood‑damage reduction package while deferring broader decisions about road projects.
Public Works and County Engineer Joel Dickerson asked the board to contribute to a set of projects that would be partially funded by the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Port. The largest debate centered on a request to upgrade Fish Hook Park Road from asphalt to concrete, a change Dickerson said would improve life‑cycle costs but that increased the county's local match by roughly $1 million once inflation and design upgrades were included.
Commissioner Todd Kimball and Commissioner Fulmer expressed strong reservations about using the county's 9‑tenths economic‑development fund for repair or reconstruction of existing county roads, saying it would set a precedent and could deplete local road funds needed across dozens of projects. Commissioner Clayton said the project supports a major employer and noted the MPO has awarded about $1.6 million, arguing the $100,000 county request was modest relative to the total.
On the Clinton/US‑12 interchange, Dickerson briefed the board on a separate $200,000 request toward the county's previously agreed $312,000 contribution for design and right‑of‑way. Commissioners questioned whether county road funds could legally be used after annexations and asked staff to coordinate with the port and city before taking action; the board agreed by consensus to set the request aside pending further coordination.
By contrast, commissioners approved a $500,000 request for the Mill Creek Channel CAP‑205 flood reduction project, which Public Works described as protecting downtown businesses and thousands of jobs. The board amended the county contribution to a $250,000 loan and a $250,000 grant, directing staff to establish repayment terms or assessment changes with the flood control district. The motion carried (voice vote recorded as unanimous).
What happens next: Public Works will return with clarifying letters and, where requested, revised designs and funding commitments from the port and city. Several commissioners asked staff to explore alternatives (redesign, redistributed MPO funds, smaller overlays) to reduce the county's local share if the Fish Hook concrete upgrade moves forward.
Quote: "This is a safety project," Commissioner Clayton said of Fish Hook Park Road. "With MPO commitment above $1.6 million, $100,000 is a modest request." Commissioner Kimball said: "I'm concerned about setting a precedent of paying more than our typical match for repair of existing roads."
