Fire District #3 reports on busy year, Leavenworth City Council approves city improvement contracts

LEAVENWORTH – The City Council received an update from Fire District #3, approved contracts for city improvement projects, and said goodbye to a city staff member in its July 23 meeting.

Fire District #3 Captain Mike Smith gave an update regarding fuel reduction along Chumstick Highway as well as response statistics. Smith reported that the department had run 411 calls this year, in comparison to 419 last year.

“So we're kind of getting close to last year, and we'll probably pass it. There's just been a lot of people in town…As you bring people into town, you have more incidents,” said Smith.

Smith said Fire District #3 had responded to multiple brush fire calls on and after the Fourth of July in Peshastin, on Chumstick Highway, and the Balsamroot fire in Wenatchee. Fireworks were believed to be the cause of two of the fires. FD #3 has also sent resources and personnel to assist with the Pioneer Fire, which is burning just north of Manson.

In municipal updates, the City Council approved a consultant agreement with Ardurra Group, Inc. to design and bid the Curb Ramp Improvements project for $47,482. The project will replace approximately 28 pedestrian curb ramps in the city that currently do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

For the Front Street Stairway and Restroom Expansion project, the City Council approved an additional $232,724 in construction administration for a contract with ARC Architects, who also handled the design and rebidding of the project. The entirety of the contract totals $468,593.

Lastly, the City Council said goodbye to Community Development Director Lilith Vespier, who is leaving her position to work for the Department of Commerce Housing Commission.

“I'll be working with a really nice team of folks there and trying to implement more housing across the state,” said Vespier.

The City Council closed the meeting with a fifteen-minute Executive Session in order to discuss the legal challenges of a potential tenant protection ordinance with city attorney Thom Graafstra.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media