Brewster project makes 2020 Prioritization List

BREWSTER – Improvements to Old Highway 97/Hospital Way emerged as one of eight projects on the list of year 2020 priorities selected by the Economic Alliance to present to the Okanogan County Commissioners as one of the most important to address in the county next year.

City clerk/treasurer Misty Ruiz said the corner where Old 97 meets Hospital on the east side of town requires a better fix than the city can provide to handle the volume of traffic and amount of heavy truck use at that location.

“We’ve been applying chip seal to streets all over town, but chip seal just does not hold up,” said Ruiz of the Old 97/Hospital Way junction. “It needs some kind of application the county can’t do.”

“The Economic Alliance’s Infrastructure Committee met on Sept. 23 and listened to presentations by advocates of each project, scored and ranked projects according to the criteria for evaluation projects,” an agency media release said. 

Contract city planner Kurt Danison appeared before the committee on behalf of Brewster to pitch the Old 97/Hospital Way repair.

The Alliance added those applicants it selected to a Public Infrastructure Project Prioritization List and presented the list to the county commissioners. The eight infrastructure projects listed in order of merit include:

1. Omak Airport Water Phase 2.

2. Tonasket Perfect Passage.

3. Omak Shumway Development.

4. Winthrop Town Trailhead.

5. Tonasket Annexation Phase 1.

6. Tonasket Public Safety Building.

7. Tonasket Public Library.

8. Brewster Old 97 Hospital Way Improvements.

While Brewster’s project appeared at the bottom of the list, its inclusion increases the odds that the city can secure funding to make the repair.

“There is no money awarded for being on the list,” explained Ruiz, “but it helps us get grants from other places.”

Ruiz said a roundabout is recommended as the best solution for handling Old 97/Hospital Way traffic but there is currently no funding to install one.

The Alliance Committee also listed seven community/economic development projects submitted for the commissioners’ consideration. Those selected include:

1. Okanogan County Community Action Committee (OCCAC) Homestead Resource Training Center.

2. Okanogan County Fire District 6 (OCFD6) Emergency Message Board.

3. Loomis Fire Joint Base.

4. OCFD6 Fire Safety Training.

5. Mid Valley Hospital New Regional Hospital.

6. OCFD6 Fluorescent Light Replacement.

7. Okanogan County Wellness Center Wellness & Birthing Center.