–by Margie Doyle —
The San Juan County Council approved awards of $150,000 to the Orcas Recycling Services/The Exchange and of $60,000 to the Orcas Island Public Library yesterday, Aug. 9. The awards are funded by the .09 Public Facilities Financing Assistance Program (PFFAP), which gave out $303,225 in grants this year.
The ORS funds will go towards a new “Exchange” recycling building on the County’s Orcas Waste Transfer Station site. ORS/The Exchange, a 501c3 non-profit, will be responsible for furnishing the building for recycling operations.
The Public library funds will go towards construction of replacement stairs from the Library Park on Prune Alley to the expanded Library building.
On Lopez Island , $13,400 was awarded towards airplane camping improvements on the Port of Lopez property.
On San Juan Island $35,000 was awarded to Parks and Recreation for the John Linde Community Park Playground and to $ 44,825 to San Juan County Parks and Fair for RV sites upgrades and improvements at the County Fairgrounds.
The PFFAP funding is generated through the collection of a 0.09% sales and use tax for public facilities serving economic development purposes in rural counties. It is also used to finance personnel in the Economic Development office.
Each year the county calls for proposals that must fit within well- defined state and county criteria and process. The applications are reviewed by an evaluation team made up of representatives from the County, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port Districts, and the Economic Development Council. A recommendation for funding goes on to Public Hearing before the County Council, and funding awards are made. The funds must be used within a two and one half year timeline.
In commenting on the awards announcement, County Council Member Rick Hughes praised the staff recommendations, saying, “I wish we had more money to utilize for the applications. He said that the Port of Orcas application for a Park and Ride lot on Port Property wasn’t recommended for funding because the proposal “needs to be vetted in the community.” He said that the Marine Resources Committee’s request for funding was declined because the money would go towards a salary and not a project.
The Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendations provided by Debbie Emery, County Manager Administrative Staff.
So pleased to learn the San Juan County Council provided these significant grants to the Orcas Library and the Orcas Recycling Services/the Exchange. Yea!
Yea for everything except that it costs upward of $60,000 to rebuild the library stairs? Can that be real? Do we need to rethink some costs/spending? Merry
Concerning the cost of the library stairway, I think that an easy and beautiful stairway between Prune Ally and the library will make for an inviting connection to the heart of our village.
In re the library stairs:
It is important to remember that the State Prevailing Wage requirements bear the responsibility for most cost increases related to spending on public works projects. The requirement has the effect of nearly doubling wages (and thus cost) for most trades.
This is why costs for entities like the School, Library and other tax-dollar entities are always so out of line with what consumers would expect to see for similar projects.
Can’t fault the Library… Now the legislature… That’s another story!