2020-01-27 Mickelsen Parkway updateMickelsen Parkway update
January 27, 2020
4:03 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Stamper, Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson, County Manager Erik
Martin, Josh Metcalf
Guest: Dr. Lindsey Pollock
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Josh Metcalf said Public Works has learned from WSDOT that its funding is still on hold due to the car
tab initiative passed in 2019. He said the funding could be released after the session ends.
Josh said the contractor stopped work in November because it had six outstanding invoices that
Benaroya and the city of Winlock had not paid. Josh said the county found out about the work stoppage
in January.
Josh said the county had to write to Benaroya to get the company to pay the amount it had agreed to
pay.
Josh said the contractor is expected to provide a schedule and an engineer’s estimate by the end of the
week.
Josh said the county has paid the rest of the outstanding bills out of the .09 fund. He said the $750,000
from the state will be used to complete the work.
Commissioner Stamper said Benaroya has insisted the project be complete in 2020. Josh expressed
reservations about spending $2 million on the road if it is going to nothing.
Erik Martin said Benaroya’s potential partner does not want to commit financially until February 2020.
Erik and Josh said Benaroya has requested that the commissioners provide a letter that indicates that
Benaroya’s money would be used last. Josh said Benaroya has spent $45,000 so far for the project and
has committed an additional $1.2 million for construction. The company wants assurances that the
additional $1.2 million would be used last.
The group discussed how the county would proceed if the state doesn’t provide the $750,000.
Commissioner Stamper said he would reach out to the Industrial Commission to gauge the group’s
thoughts on the project.
Meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.