Connell council adopts county hazard plan, updates fees and corrects zoning; resident seeks construction extension

Connell’s City Council on Monday approved a package of routine but consequential administrative items and heard public comment from a property owner seeking more time to complete a commercial build-out.

The council voted to adopt Resolution 2026-06 supporting the Franklin County 2026 multi-hazard mitigation plan, which updates the 2018 multi-jurisdictional framework and incorporates the county’s Community Wildlife Protection Plan. The moderator said the update preserves the city’s eligibility for state and federal mitigation grant funding and will guide future local mitigation projects.

Council also approved Resolution 2026-07 to update the city’s master fee schedule after Franklin County’s April 29 interlocal agreement to process Connell building and planning permits. Under the change, most city permit and planning fees in Schedules B and E were stricken; the remaining local fees retained in the schedule include a $500 franchise-agreement deposit, a $60 sidewalk-use permit and penalties for failing to obtain required permits. The moderator explained that permitting will now be processed through Franklin County’s planning and building department.

The council authorized renewal of an interagency agreement allowing the Washington State Department of Corrections to use the Connell Police Department firing range. The presenter said the DOC agreed to increase its annual fee from $2,000 to $2,500. “We requested a increase in fees from $2,000 a year to $2,500 a year, which they’ve agreed to,” said the mayor during the presentation; the council moved to authorize the chief to sign the renewed agreement and the motion passed by voice vote.

Councilors also directed staff to administratively correct a 2020 zoning-map error affecting three parcels on the east side of Highway 395 (listed as approximately 23 acres, 28 acres and 22.7 acres). City staff said the parcels were mistakenly colored as “industrial light” during the comprehensive-plan update and that ordinance language and prior maps show the land should be classified as “urban reserve.” The council approved the correction.

During public comment a property owner who said they purchased a corner lot in 2021 asked the council for an extension of the five-year build requirement in their contract. The speaker said the original plan to build a car wash proved cost-prohibitive (the speaker estimated roughly $1,000,000 for a car wash) and that they and a partner have instead designed a roughly 750-square-foot retail/food space with seating and an outdoor patio they intend to lease to local entrepreneurs. The commenter said county permitting review is pending and asked the council to approve up to two additional years to finish construction. “We would at most request… two years to finish it,” the resident said, noting about $50,000 already spent on planning and preliminary work.

The meeting also included a staff notice that Burlington Northern Railway will replace crossing planks and install new asphalt at the Clark Street and Adams Street crossings the week of May 11–14; the railroad is funding the work. Staff and council discussed recent safety incidents — including students climbing over stopped train cars and a near-miss when an engineer yelled “hot main” — and said the city will increase officer or volunteer presence near school arrival and dismissal times and distribute safety flyers.

The council reviewed and agreed to a revised City of Connell mission statement and heard the mayor’s report about recent community cleanups, facility painting and pool maintenance. The meeting concluded with routine administrative updates and continued labor negotiations noted in the mayor’s report.

Votes at a glance

• Resolution 2026-06 (Franklin County multi-hazard mitigation plan): approved (voice vote). • Resolution 2026-07 (master fee schedule update tied to county permitting interlocal): approved (voice vote). • Interagency agreement renewal with Washington State DOC (firing range; fee increase to $2,500/year): authorized (voice vote). • Administrative correction to zoning map (three parcels changed to urban reserve): approved (voice vote).

What’s next

A resident’s written request for a time extension will remain on file with council staff for follow-up; the railroad work is scheduled for May 11–14 as posted; permitting under the interlocal will be processed by Franklin County planning and building staff going forward.