At its first meeting in February Monday night, Feb. 1, the Airway Heights City Council unanimously approved a pair of consultant agreements to begin design work on two transportation improvement projects in the city.
The first is a $158,400 contract with Century West for reconstructing and widening of a portion of a transportation loop from State Route 2 along Garfield and Russell streets, terminating at the Russell/Sixth Avenue intersection. The city has received a $1.782 million Transportation Improvement Board grant for the project, which covers 90 percent of the work involved. The city is required to pick up the remaining 10 percent, about $198,000, of the $1.98 million project, which is scheduled to take place this year.
The second agreement is a $61,440 contract with Century West for design and engineering work on the asphalt overlay of McFarlane Road between Craig to Hayford roads. The city has also received TIB grant funding in the amount of $691,200 for this project, and like the Garfield and Russell project, is obligated to pay 10 percent, $76,800, of the overall project’s total of $768,000.
“We’re looking to get that project through this year as well,” Public Works Director Kevin Anderson said.
Council approved an ordinance amending the “Compensation” portion of the city’s municipal code reducing the salary of the mayor and deputy mayor. The mayor’s compensation drops from $2,000 per month to $1,200 while the deputy mayor’s falls from $750 per month to $650.
During staff reports, Anderson added comments to a discussion the council had during the Jan. 25 study session regarding the condition of 21st Avenue. The state considers the street a bypass through the city in case U.S. Highway 2 is blocked, but views any improvement project as a local project, and won’t pay for the work.
Some of 21st Avenue is gravel and in poor condition, requiring annual repairs, and council had entered into a discussion at the study session on ways to provide a permanent repair to the road. Anderson said Monday night that temporary fixes seldom work because the roadway bed is poor, lacking good drainage and good soils.
“If we want it to last at all, it’s going to take some money,” he added.
Airway Heights Mayor Kevin Richey agreed with Anderson that the city’s standard method of operation to provide yearly fixes to the roadway was no longer feasible.
“I think it’s time to move on and solve the problem,” Richey said.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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