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Residents raise concerns about chip-seal project, speed and runoff; public works and police respond
Summary
Multiple residents raised questions and concerns at the Aug. 25 City of Forks Council meeting about the recent chip-seal road project, speeding on local streets, and signage; Public Works Director Hampton and Police Chief Rowley responded, noting a $1.8 million Transportation Improvement Board grant funds the project, that runoff is not expected to change materially, and that the City closed a road section over a dust complaint.
Several residents used the public-comment period Aug. 25 to press the City of Forks on road safety and performance following a recent chip-seal project.
John Witherspoon asked the Council to replace a deaf-child sign on Trillium and to reduce that street’s speed limit; he also raised concerns about increased water runoff after the chip-seal work. Public Works Director Hampton responded that roads were being correctly crowned for drainage and that runoff should remain roughly the same because the road area is not being changed; he said he would have the chip-seal surface fog-sealed to help avoid future issues and told residents the project resulted from a $1.8-million grant from the Transportation Improvement Board. "Anyone with concerns about the chip-seal should contact the TIB directly," Hampton said.
Police Chief Rowley reported a business owner had complained about dust from the chip-seal work and that the City had closed the portion of road causing the problem; Rowley urged drivers to slow down and described enforcement actions that included stopping speeders and an abandoned vehicle chase.
Attorney/Planner Fleck reported progress in asking the Washington State Department of Transportation to conduct a traffic study on Forks Avenue as part of an inquiry about reducing speed limits at town edges. Council Member Gingell also led a discussion about identifying critical facilities that need backup generators and pursuing FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant funding to procure them.
The Council did not enact new speed limits or change the chip-seal contract on Aug. 25. Staff offered next steps: fog-sealing the chip-seal surface, coordinating with TIB on performance concerns, continuing WSDOT traffic-study discussions, and pursuing grant options for generator procurement.
