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Public works committee hears updates on fiber installs, new equipment, waterways work and park grants
Summary
Ocean Shores staff reported progress on local fiber cabinet installs and marine maintenance, confirmed a new bucket truck and storage barn funding, said a new clinic passed Department of Health review, and outlined park grant applications; no formal council votes were recorded.
The Ocean Shores Public Works Committee met March 23 and received a series of operations and capital-project updates, including local fiber cabinet work, a new bucket truck for the street crew, freshwater boat operations and park grant plans.
The committee chair said Bridal Fiber has increased crews to three working in the city rights-of-way, has encountered but managed a few instances of crews hitting water and sewer lines, and has completed a cabinet installation by the public workshop; the chair said no date had been set for accepting customers. "They now have two additional crews here, so that makes three crews in total that they have working in the right of ways right now," the chair said.
Staff reported the city purchased a bucket truck for Ocean Shores Public Works and received it the previous Friday. "Our mechanic, Ken McKay, as well as the street department crew chief, Alex Severson, both approved of it," the chair said, and staff said the purchase was made from equipment reserve funds.
Public-works staff also described recent activity on the freshwater waterways: the city acquired two boats from Fresh Waterways Corporation, completed repairs, and has a barge in operation with licensed city employees. Staff said crews have since removed three trees in the freshwater waterways since the barge became operational two weeks ago.
On seasonal services, staff announced the spring cleanup for Ocean Shores will take place April 22–26, with drop-off and pickup options for residents who cannot bring materials to the yard. The Green Waste Collection Center will operate on Saturdays from April 1 through September, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., according to staff (the transcript recorded a short clarification exchange about the start month).
Committee members heard several infrastructure and facility updates. Staff said communications equipment for the South End Fire Station has arrived but the city must provide an IP address before the vendor can install the system. On backup power, staff said electrical inspectors approved using one large generator with four transfer switches; they are awaiting confirmation from the generator builder about adding two more transfer switches as a potential cost-saving measure.
The committee was told a planned clinic passed a Department of Health review at the first virtual meeting. Staff said the hospital will pursue the clinic license and that the clinic manager, described in the discussion as a licensed nurse practitioner in training, is expected to finish roughly 30 days of training by month’s end, with an opening hoped for in April.
Other capital work includes a city-funded pole-barn-style public-works garage approved for up to $200,000 to store new equipment (staff estimated 8–11 bays within the approved budget) and a convention-center roof inspection that identified numerous small items rated poor or fair; staff said many items can be handled by the city contractor and larger roof work will be budgeted over the next several years with staff considering LTAC funding assistance.
Staff also summarized parks grants: two separate $35,000 grants from the Grays Harbor Community Foundation were secured for North Bay Baseball Field improvements (the high school will make the field its full-time home), and staff plan to apply for an RCO grant for North Bay Park that would add a volleyball court, ADA parking and sidewalks, a shelter connection and new playground equipment selected through community display boards and input.
During public comment a resident asked about trucks seen near the Public Works building; the chair said work was likely being done by PUD or Ripple Fiber and noted a cabinet had been placed that staff expect will serve the north side of town. A committee member asked for clarification on whether convention-center work was being done under the Purcell contract; staff confirmed it was.
The committee set its next meeting for April 27, 2026, at 1 p.m. in the Ocean Shores Library Meeting Room and adjourned.
