Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
County briefed on required turn lane at shooting range after DOT review; costs climb above earlier estimates
Loading...
Summary
Staff reported DOT-approved designs for a left-turn lane at the county shooting range and said soils testing and design are complete; the engineer's estimate has risen well above an initial ~$300,000 expectation and staff asked the board to consider reappropriating available fund balance to cover the increase.
County public‑works staff told the Spokane County Board of County Commissioners that a left‑turn lane is required at the county shooting range after a 12‑month post‑opening traffic study and DOT review. Staff said DOT approved the design last month, design and soils testing are complete, and the project is ready to go to bid once funding is approved.
Initially the county expected the project to cost roughly $300,000, but staff said the engineer’s current estimate is substantially higher. The transcript reports the engineer’s estimate in shorthand as "5.50," and staff and commissioners discussed that construction‑cost inflation and a decision to extend the lane (to better serve an adjacent EVOC track) had increased the estimate; the exact dollar figure was not unambiguously stated on the record. Public‑works staff proposed reappropriating about $400,000 returned to the general fund when the small‑arms range project closed, and recommended a reappropriation up to $750,000 to provide a cushion for bids and unforeseen conditions.
Commissioners questioned whether the work falls entirely in DOT right‑of‑way (staff said yes) and discussed timing for putting the project out to bid to get a favorable contractor market. One commissioner emphasized safety and urged the county to move the project forward given a history of accidents and near misses at the turn. Staff said they would return with a recommendation on timing and funding if the board wanted more options.
Why it matters: The turn‑lane project responds to documented safety concerns at a county facility and will require coordination with state DOT, funding reallocation, and a competitive bid process.
What’s next: Staff will recommend funding and a bid timeline; the board discussed reappropriating fund balance and the possibility of authorizing up to $750,000 to cover the project.
