Planning begins for new Quincy public works shop

QUINCY — The city of Quincy might be building a new public works shop. Quincy City Council members awarded a $22,000 contract to MJ Neal Associates, Wenatchee, to design the new shop and prepare a project budget at the regular meeting Aug. 1.

Council member Dave Dormaier recused himself from the vote, citing work he’s done with the company. Without Dormaier the vote was 6-0.

The new shop would be built at the corner of Division Street W and Second Avenue SW, a vacant lot most recently used to store sand and gravel, according to the MJ Neal scope of work submission. The company will assess what’s needed in a city shop and how much space it would take, a report called a building program. That will be followed by a schematic design for the building, as well as a project budget and possible timeline.

The information could be used to apply for funding through the state Capital Budget.

In other business, council members voted to allow diagonal parking along First Avenue SE from B Street SE to Division Street E.

The vote was unanimous.

That section of First Avenue is adjacent to the block of B Street SE that hosts the summer Farmers Market, the B Street Block Party among other events. It’s a block off Quincy’s downtown corridor, which also plays host to a number of community events.

“The revision is to add and install on-street parking stalls on both sides of the roadway to help accommodate additional vehicles generated by events in the area,” according to the memo from city staff.

Council members voted July 18 to accept the completion of upgrades to the sidewalks at the Quincy Valley Historical Society and Museum, and director Harriet Weber attended the Aug. 1 meeting to thank council members in person.

“That whole area now is completely (Americans with Disabilities Act)-accessible,” she said. “I want to thank you for our public-private partnership that we have that really helps the museum to thrive,” she said.

Museum officials also added exterior lights to the Reiman-Simmons House, she said, and plan to work on the landscaping in 2024.

“It’s pretty stunning to see the light shining on the house now,” she said.

The museum summer program, “Toys Through Time,” generated a lot of interest, she said, and museum officials plan to sponsor another summer exhibit in 2024.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com. Schweizer is a resident of Moses Lake and enjoys sewing.