Bridgeport awarded USDA grant for revitalization survey

BRIDGEPORT – City contract planner Kurt Danison of Highlands Associates was the featured speaker at the regular meeting of the Bridgeport City Council on Nov. 17. Danison, who sits on the city Planning Commission and SR-173 Revitalization Committee, updated council members regarding progress being made to pursue development of the city’s downtown corridor.
In a related issue the city has received a USDA Rural Development grant to help the city complete a survey of the business sector
Mayor Janet Conklin said the USDA grant for $23,804 will be matched by $3,429 from the city. The city will use the money to hire a part-time staff member for several months to contact every business in the development zone for comments, recommendations, and other details to help guide the development plan. An earlier attempt to solicit feedback through a mailed survey did not produce the results needed. Conklin said it is important to know what the city’s businesses want and need in the way of development and want the owners think would work.
In other business the city awarded a contract to Pease & Sons contractors to rebuild the wastewater treatment plant laboratory destroyed in the September 2020 wildfire that also destroyed more than a dozen homes in Bridgeport. An earlier request for bids resulted in only one response with a quote well above the city engineer’s estimate. COVID pandemic restrictions at the time were largely responsible for increased material costs. The bid from Pease & Sons while still in excess of the original estimate was approved so the city can restore a vital water quality maintenance service.
Council members acted on four ordinances and three resolutions including the 2022 fee schedule, 2022 salary and stipend schedule, and capital facilities project list. Ordinances included the 2022 final budget, the 2022 property tax levy, and Complete Streets, the latter part of a movement being adopted by a growing number of Washington communities to promote better accessibility for pedestrians, bicycles, transit, personal vehicles, and freight trucks.