Grant Co. commissioners receive infrastructure updates

EPHRATA — During the Grant County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday they received updates from the central services and the development service directors to begin their day, followed by a variety of other updates. 

Thomas Gaines, the central services director, started his update by telling commissioners about the first course of the new Nat Washington white curb sidewalk during the week of Aug. 5. It is just the first course so that the road will not have to be watered anymore and the dust will be gone. 

Next, Chris Young, the development service director, said he had received an email from a resident about having three accessory development units on her property which is not allowed in Grant County unless it is for agricultural reasons. No major updates from development services otherwise. 

They ended the day with Sam Castro, the Grant County public works director, with his update on the new noise monitor machines installed outside the Gorge Amphitheatre. After reviewing the information he has gathered, there are small spikes of noise but on average it sits at 82 to 83 decibels. He will continue to review the information gathered to discover if those spikes are being caused by music or vehicles driving by. The machines are also picking up on train noises, however, there are no tracks out by the amphitheater so they will continue to investigate what is causing those spikes.

Castro also spoke about how they are pursuing claims against people damaging infrastructure. He said that if the motorist who damaged infrastructure has insurance, they will pursue a claim with the said insurance but if not they are working with prosecutors. Castro also talked about how an incinerator is not feasible for the new waste management place because it requires a population of half a million people for it to be worth the expense.