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Forks council approves Vertical Bridge lease amendment, OKs expenditures; police say jail "can't be sustained"
Summary
At its Oct. 27 meeting the City of Forks Council accepted a second amendment to a Vertical Bridge lease, authorized payroll and claims totaling about $1.865 million, and heard Police Chief Rowley say the city’s jail "can't be sustained for years on end," officials said.
FORKS, Wash. — The City of Forks Council on Monday approved a second amendment to an existing lease with Vertical Bridge and authorized payroll and claims that together total about $1.865 million, officials said.
Attorney/Planner Fleck explained the second amendment to the Option and Lease Agreement and to the Memorandum of Option to Lease before Council Member Wood moved to accept the amendment and Council Member Patel seconded. The motion carried, with Council Member Soha recorded as abstaining.
The council also approved payroll checks 44950 through 44965 for $80,668.89, manual check 44966 for $1,547,229.35 and claim checks 44967 through 45005 plus EFTs totaling $237,041.65 after a motion by Council Member Wood and a second by Council Member Patel.
During the meeting Clerk/Treasurer Caryn CaugnDepa DePew and Police Chief Rowley reviewed third-quarter reports covering sales and lodging tax, building permits, jail statistics and visitor information center numbers. Council Member Coleman asked how long the jail could continue under current conditions; Chief Rowley said it "can't be sustained for years on end," and cited the costs and operational disadvantages of not maintaining a functional local jail.
Lissy Andros, director of the Forks Chamber of Commerce, offered public thanks to the city crew for repairing and replacing Chamber banners and for help closing Forks Avenue for trick-or-treating.
Public Works Director Hampton reported that work on E Street is progressing and the road should reopen soon ahead of an overlay and pedestrian infrastructure project planned for next summer. Attorney/Planner Fleck said he is continuing work with the Federal Aviation Administration on a runway rehabilitation grant for Quillayute Airport, and that a Planning Commission public hearing on the city’s GMA Comprehensive Plan was delayed by technical issues and will be rescheduled; he also noted three upcoming Planning Commission vacancies.
The council conducted routine business — including approval of the Aug. 2025 Treasurer's Report and the minutes of the Oct. 13 meeting — before adjourning at 7:58 p.m.
Votes at a glance: approval of Oct. 13 minutes (motion by Patel, second Soha; motion carried, Wood abstained; tally reported as 3-0 with one abstention), approval of expenditures (motion by Wood, second Patel; motion carried; tally not specified), acceptance of the Vertical Bridge second amendment (motion by Wood, second Patel; motion carried, Soha abstained; tally reported as 3-0 with one abstention).
