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Local towing business owner urges Orting to press county and state on Puyallup River dredging
Summary
Jason Estellas, owner of First Chance Towing and vice president of the Orting Business Association, told the council the Puyallup River bed has risen near Leech Road since December storms and urged the city to work with county and state agencies to investigate dredging and drainage to reduce flood risk.
Jason Estellas (First Chance Towing; vice president, Orting Business Association) addressed the council during public comment on May 13, urging the city to help press county and state agencies to address high riverbed elevations along Leech Road.
Estellas said areas that were 10 feet below the road when he moved in 2022 were down to five or six feet after recent high-water events and that historically dredging produced much deeper channel sections. He told council staff and the mayor he had spoken to county officials and the Army Corps of Engineers about potential failure points in the bank and the effect on city storm drains, and requested that the city administrator follow up with county and state partners.
Mayor Scott Brennan offered to have the city administrator reach out to Estellas to share available information and next steps. Estellas said residents and businesses around Leech Road are concerned and would welcome more active engagement from the city.
