By Sharon Michael, The Chronicle, 9/28/98
Money is the only thing standing in the way of Lewis County's flood control project, a group of city and county officials learned Saturday.
Using a computer model of the 1,000-square-mile Chehalis Watershed developed for the county last year, Pacific International Engineering representatives have worked out designs that could reduce flood levels in the area of Highway 6 in Chehalis, as well as keep Interstate 5 through the Twin Cities high and dry during 100-year flood levels.
An earlier PIE proposal that engineers said could reduce flood levels at Mellen Street in Chehalis from 7 feet to 1 foot was criticized by Chehalis Councilor Wayne Galvin because it did not relieve flooding in Chehalis in the Highway 6 area.
PIE engineer Harry Hosey said the new alternative also could eliminate all flooding in Chehalis up to the 100-year flood level. The alternate design would involve creating a causeway under Highway 6 to allow water to flow through, and constructing bypass water storage ponds in the area.
''We know we can do the job for you on a technical basis,'' Hosey told Council of Governments representatives Saturday. ''We have to show we can do it on a financial basis. This project is money dependent, as every project is.''
Commissioner Richard Graham has been the county's lead lobbyist for federal money for the $80 million project. Current legislation before Congress includes $2.5 million for preliminary design work. Next year, the county would ask the federal government for $60 million, and ask state legislators to approve $15 million to $20 million.
That money would be available in 2000. Construction is estimated to take two to three years.
Other issues on the council's Saturday agenda included:
A proposed traffic signal on Highway 6 at Interstate 5 exit 77, which could reduce traffic delays from nearly two minutes to 15 seconds.
Chehalis Public Works Director Barry Heid said it would cost $75,000 to install the signal at the northbound ramp intersection. The state Department of Transportation has committed to paying half of the cost; local governments would have to come up with the rest of the money.
Chehalis attorney Bob Schroeter asked the cities to increase their hotel/motel tax rate by 2 percent and dedicate those revenues to the Lewis County Historical Museum for purchase of property adjacent to the museum.
Centralia, which already taxes at the maximum rate, was asked to contribute 2 percent of what it now collects on room taxes.
If the museum can't come up with the money by the end of the year to purchase the surrounding property, including a portion of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad right of way, Schroeter said the county could lose the museum building.
Chandler and Brooks, an Olympia marketing company working with the Lewis County Tourism Council and the county and cities, recommended a unified five-year marketing plan and a coordinated advertising campaign to bring tourists to the area.
Chehalis Chief of Police and Fire Services Randy Hamilton explained how the countywide emergency medical services system works and asked Centralia officials to commit to participate in that system.
Centralia Mayor Jessie Brunswig told Hamilton the Council of Governments meeting was not the proper forum to discuss the issue.
Friday, Lewis County Superior Court Judge Richard L. Brosey granted an injunction sought by the private ambulance service to prevent Centralia from beginning a city-run ambulance service Oct. 1, as it had planned.
Sharon Michael covers Centralia and Chehalis city governments for The Chronicle. She can be reached by e-mail at smichael@chronline.com or by calling 807-8237.