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Benton City Council adopts greenhouse gas policy, sets Feb. 18 right‑of‑way hearing, approves tractor purchase and funds storm‑drain design
Summary
Council adopted a greenhouse gas policy required for certain funding, set a Feb. 18 public hearing to consider vacating a 60x200-foot right‑of‑way adjacent to 1600 Dale Avenue, authorized purchase of a replacement Kubota tractor, and approved a $10,000 engineering task order to design storm‑drainage work on 11th Street.
Benton City’s council on Jan. 21, 2025, approved several administrative and capital decisions intended to keep city projects on schedule and address local infrastructure concerns.
Greenhouse gas policy: Staff explained adopting a greenhouse gas emissions reduction policy is a condition for applying to the Public Works Board for a sewer preconstruction loan and may also be required by the Transportation Improvement Board for certain transportation funding. The council voted to adopt the resolution establishing greenhouse gas emissions‑reduction policies to keep funding applications compliant.
Right-of-way vacation hearing set: The council reviewed a request from property owner Bryce Hillman to vacate an undeveloped 60-by-200-foot public right‑of‑way adjacent to 1600 Dale Avenue. Staff recommended retaining a 20‑foot utility easement to preserve public utility access; staff said there are no current utilities running through the parcel and that Mr. Hillman has an existing encroachment license. The council approved a resolution to set a public hearing on the proposed vacation for Feb. 18, 2025, at 7 p.m., allowing neighbors to present testimony and for the council to consider conditions before any final action.
Tractor purchase authorized: Council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with a vendor to purchase a replacement Kubota tractor with attachments to replace a 20‑plus‑year‑old unit. Staff said financing terms under a vendor promotion (48 months at 0% interest) were favorable and that the expense can be covered under the parks budget if paid over time.
Storm drainage design funded: The council revisited recurring stormwater runoff that discharges from 11th Street onto private property. A contractor offered to install a system if the city would pay for design costs. Council authorized an engineering services task order with the listed consultant not to exceed $10,000 for design of the storm drainage system; staff estimated installation bids would follow and gave a rough, preliminary construction estimate in the low tens of thousands of dollars.
What happens next: The greenhouse gas policy will remain on the city’s policy books to support loan and grant eligibility; the right‑of‑way vacation will be considered at a public hearing on Feb. 18, 2025; the engineering design funded for 11th Street will proceed and, if bids and a construction plan follow, the city will return with implementation options and budget requests.
