Buckley’s City Council approved, Jan. 11, funding and a funding revision, respectively, for two separate projects on state Route 410 East.
The first was a bid award to Pacific Northwest Earthworks on the SR 410 and Mason Avenue pedestrian crossing project. That contractor offered the low bid of more than $52,300, more than $43,000 below the city engineer’s estimate.
The council followed up the unanimous approval of the bid by hiring Gray and Osborne Inc. for construction management duties on the project, at an additional cost of $25,000.
The project will add a solar-powered pedestrian crossing light to the intersection of SR 410 and Mason Avenue. Some of the project cost will be offset by a state Department of Transportation grant. The increased cost of construction management services had already been approved by WSDOT.
The pedestrian crossing is expected to be completed by Sept. 1, according to a copy of the supplemental agreement with WSDOT.
Councilman Mark McNally was the only opponent on the latter vote, citing a desire for the proposal to go to the Streets and Utilities committee prior to going before council.
The second project approval was a revised funding estimate for the SR 410, state Route 165, Ryan Road and 112th Street realignment. The planned purchase will allow the city to buy three land parcels necessary for work to commence. One of the parcels belongs to the city of Tacoma. Only a 35-foot strip of land was authorized for purchase, but the city may buy the entire parcel at some point in the future.
“The total parcel from Tacoma water is a little over 18,000 square feet,” City Administrator Dave Schmidt said. “Initially, they said they did not want to sell the 35-foot strip we need for the project without selling the whole thing. I met with the mayor, and we discussed that it might be more beneficial to buy the whole thing.
“But a community appraisal would cost $3,000 and take us beyond the deadline for this project. So we’re recommending only purchasing the 35 now and meet with Tacoma Water about entertaining another offer somewhere down the line.”
The cost of those acquisitions will be $24,125, according to Schmidt.
The bill was added to the agenda by Schmidt shortly after the council meeting began, prompting the single “nay” vote by Doug Harple.
In other action, the council:
• recognized Finance Director Sheila Bazzar for 30 years of service with the city.
• approved a memorandum of understanding extending the city’s collective bargaining agreement with the police guild.
• approved acquisition of a World Trade Center artifact for the new fire station.
• approved a renewal of the Pierce County 911 contract.
