Preparing for city facilities for summer, and seeking a solution for replacing the damaged culverts beneath Russell Road were topics of discussion at the Forks City Council met Monday evening, April 11 in the Council Chambers.

The council voted to approved the expenditure of up to $50,000 on a new restroom facility at Tillicum Park.

Public Works Director Dave Zellar brought specifications to the meeting for a prefab rest room building that would be shipped in to Forks. Installation at a location adjacent to the covered Rayonier Shay locomotive would involve ground work and more by city workers.

Funds for the new rest room would come from state tourism accommodation tax funds the city receives. Councilman John Hillcar, who has been working on the project with Councilman Bruce Guckenberg, made a motion to approve the expenditure.

“This will at least alleviate the problem,” Mayor Bryon Monohon said. Locating a rest room in the downtown merchant area has also been called for, he said.

Guckenberg said the first 2011 meeting of the Forks Beautification Committee was held last week. Now chairing the committee is Forks commercial artist Vern Hestand. Hestand told the Forks Forum last week that the committee is looking at new improvements to the downtown area for this summer. Many downtown businesses now have cedar wood flower planters with carved decorations fronting their businesses. The planters were crafted by Olympic Corrections Center workers from wood donated by Bill and Kitty Sperry.

Zellar told Hillcar that the city will place signage along Forks Ave. at the park so visitors will know the rest room is available.

The city has faced ongoing vandalism problems at the existing Tillicum Park bathroom.

Russell Road

Zellar asked the council for their input on how to best replace the culvert underlying a closed section of Russell Road. City Attorney/Planner Rod Fleck and he continue to seek federal funding for the work, he said.

Hillcar suggested contacting an engineer who works with Rayonier on the Olympic Peninsula who is familiar with local culvert and bridge design and installation.

Patrol car replacements

Forks Police Chief Doug Price told the council that the Quileute Tribe has agreed to purchase a Chevy Tahoe police vehicle from the city for $26,000.

Price said he recently inspected several former Washington State Patrol (WSP) Ford Victoria police cruisers at a WSP lot in Tumwater. He said the $26,000 will more than cover the cost of three of the used police cars including installation of radios and other necessary gear.

He said delivery time should be about one month.

The council approved allocating the funds for the vehicle purchase.