County to deny overpass funding request

Commissioner Stevens tells Moses Lake city council that letter of response will say no

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Commissioner Richard Stevens told members of the city council that the county has decided to deny the city's latest money request to help fund an overpass on Interstate 90.

"We are very supportive, but we don't have the money," Stevens told the council members Tuesday night, adding that they would receive an official letter of response either Wednesday or Thursday, but that they "probably would not like it."

Asked to put the county's response to the city in numerical terms, with one being "yes" and 10 being "no," Stevens was emphatic. "As far as I know it's a 10."

The county's decision limits the number of remaining options the city has to get the project rolling the way they wanted to, with the design set to start on March 1.

"Time is running short," said City Manager Joe Gavinski, adding that the only thing the city could do to try and get more funding is to first ask the Legislature and the Washington State Department of Transportation for a one-year delay.

The WSDOT has announced its intentions to go ahead with the design of a two-lane bridge between Potato Hill Road and Division Street. Potato Hill Road is a county road, and hence, the city had chosen to ask the county for support.

Grant County Commissioners had met with Gavinski and Mayor Ron Covey on Monday.

During that meeting, Commissioner LeRoy Allison had expressed his fears that helping the city out with county road fund monies may set a precedent that would lead other cities to ask for money from it as well.

Tuesday night, Stevens said that the county's decision had been made due to the commissioners' responsibility to protect the county's fiduciary interests.

While he said he understood the county's decision and was not surprised by it, Covey said Commissioner Deborah Moore had had "no consideration" for the city's position. While Gavinski said he was not surprised by the decision, Covey said he was "extremely disappointed."

Councilman Richard Pearce added that the county must not forget that the residents of Moses Lake are also residents of the county, as well.