First Street expansion to south possible

The Mayor’s Roundtable ending the Feb. 11 La Conner Town Council meeting was the most future focused portion of the evening. Councilmembers gathered around a map Bill Stokes unfolded on the table. He shared the work he has been advancing with Director of Public Works Brian Lease to develop and pave First Street south of Commercial Street, connecting it to Caledonia Street.

Stokes has championed the advantages of the extension, including creating a one way loop for traffic out of town, extending the boardwalk and routing traffic past the Town’s Third Street parking lot.

“Brian encouraged this and said we can get every bit paid for” Stokes said.

“This looks like a fun project,” Lease replied to Councilmember MaryLee Chamberlain’s query, “Are you up for it?”

Lease confirmed Stokes’ point that costs are likely to be paid for from grants, Safe Routes to School and Complete Streets state transportation programs.

The old Moore Clark building extends seven feet onto the Town’s right away. Developing the street will obligate Triton America, the owner, to move the west wall.

The Council agreed to have the street extension on the Feb. 25 meeting agenda.

Conway Boy Scouts Troop 4056 attended the meeting. La Conner kids make up half the troop Council was told. The troop came as part of their earning citizenship and community communications badges and merits. They left early and missed this heart of the session.

Cindy Verge, director of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, presented the Town with a framed 2020 Festival poster at the top of the meeting.

Mayor Ramon Hayes noted January’s sales and hotel motel tax revenue were sufficiently above expectations.

Hayes reported the Town now owns the “very nice, $51,000 Steinway piano” in Maple Hall with the dissolution of a local nonprofit that had claimed it.

For business, during the 38 minute meeting, Council passed unanimously, without comment, an agreement providing $5,000 budgeted to the La Conner School District supporting the after school Braves Club

All councilmembers were present.