The South Shore Road Advisory Committee (SSRAC) met Wednesday at the Community Church from 4:30–6:00. Attending were Jim Nichol, Sally Smith, Dennis Wyatt, Marc Caputo, Roz Glasser, Connie Snell, Jon Prescott, Paula Dekker, Tony Maggi, Carl Meinzinger, Edith Walden, Forrest Jones, and one visitor, Bruce Adkins. Absent were Darcy Daniells, Win Anderson, Susan Ferrell, and Bruce Rooney.

Minutes from January 21st were read and approved with a slight correction. Edith Walden volunteered to take future minutes.

The following mission statement was adopted: “The South Shore Road Advisory Committee represents the Guemes Island community and will provide to the Skagit County Public Works Department viable short-term and long-term recommendations to solve the issues of the deterioration of South Shore Road and the impacts to detour routes.”

As most of the current committee members reside along South Shore Road, the committee will request that two representatives from Holiday Hideaway Association be added to the membership. Roz Glasser will represent GIPOA (Guemes Island Property Owners Association).

Forrest Jones from Public Works presented requested research materials, including the geotechnical study from a year ago; aerial maps from 1963 to present; plat, hydric soils, zoning, and property-owner maps; and the proposed alternate road maps from the first Public Works meeting last year. A request for a contour map was made. He also provided a summary of the road-count data from the 2-day count conducted in June, 2008. He reported that a new collection of road-count data is underway and will be completed by February 8th. The summary of that data will be available in two weeks.

In response to the committee’s immediate safety and drainage concerns, Forrest and Torrey Nelson, also from Public Works, toured problem areas on the island with Jim Nichol. Forrest reported that additional signs will be posted along Edens and South Shore Road to warn of narrow spots and reduced speed limits. Chris Seidel, District 1 Road Manager, will visit the island by the end of this month to address drainage issues, especially the failed culvert near the Snell home. More pylons will be added to the most dangerous parts of South Shore Road to prevent pedestrians, bicyclists, and other traffic from traveling on the most weakened areas.

Forrest spent further time today surveying problem areas, particularly the area of Edens Road that floods. He reports that the valley slope is .005%, resulting in very slow drainage. He is working to put together an estimate to raise Edens Road by 12-18 inches. He reminds that Public Works is responsible for maintaining 800 roads throughout the county.

The committee expressed its appreciation to Forrest for the timeliness and thoroughness in responding to its requests.

The maps and materials will be stored with Dennis Wyatt between meetings.

Roz Glasser presented a proposed work plan for the committee, which was adopted. We will begin by listing all concerns, allowing for solutions to be proposed but tabled until all proposals are ready. When possible, we will separate short-term and long-term concerns. We will attempt to have short-term recommendations within 2-3 months. We plan to research, brainstorm, and evaluate all issues and alternatives, with community and stakeholder input. We will conclude by developing final viable recommendations.

Dennis Wyatt introduced a proposal to close South Shore Road to through traffic from Guemes Island Road to Channel View Drive. The committee emphasizes that it will consider ALL proposals at one time after they have all been presented. This proposal was tabled.

In view of the urgency and workload, the committee decided to begin meeting weekly, Wednesdays from 4:30–6:00, at the church until the Community Hall is available. The meetings are open to the public, but comments and questions from visitors will be taken only during the last 15 minutes of regular meetings. Jim Nichol was appointed on an interim basis to be the sole spokesperson for the committee. Interested persons may communicate ideas and concerns to him at jnichol@2nichols.com.

The committee decided that a quorum of fifty percent of members was sufficient to conduct business. Members who miss meetings must take responsibility to keep informed so as not to waste time.

Next week’s agenda includes the listing of concerns and proposals. The meeting was adjourned.

Submitted by Edith Walden