Council waives bidding requirements for emergency repairs from flooding and snowstorms

January 12, 2009

Summary

Fees for disposing of storm debris waived in hard hit communities

Story

As residents throughout King County and County employees continue to assess the damage caused by two very different winter storms, the Metropolitan King County Council today unanimously adopted legislation to assist the victims of December’s snow and January’s floods in their recovery.

“Quickly repairing road damage is a necessary first step to getting King County moving after these major storms,” said new Council Chair Dow Constantine. “This legislation will help expedite contracts for repairs to roads and other public facilities and the dump fees waiver will enable residents to do their own storm clean up at minimal cost.”

“For residents who have experienced some of the highest water flows in decades, this opportunity to dispose of flood-damaged debris will help in the recovery from the devastation,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, who represents the hard-hit Snoqualmie Valley. “This emergency waiver also will allow placement of dump boxes in some of our communities most damaged by last week’s flooding.”

The Council adopted an ordinance waiving County requirements on competitive bidding on repairs that protect life and property. The Council also authorized the Solid Waste Division to waive fees for disposal of storm-related debris at communities most impacted by flood damage.

Solid Waste Division staff are coordinating with the commercial haulers, recycling companies, and staff in the cities of Carnation, Duvall, Snoqualmie, North Bend, Issaquah, and Pacific to set up garbage boxes and, where needed, boxes for appliances and wood debris at temporary drop off sites in those communities. Residents should know flood debris is not being accepted at Solid Waste transfer stations free of charge. Customers who come to the transfer facilities with flood debris expecting free disposal will be redirected to the temporary drop off sites set up in hard hit communities.

Heavy snowfall the week before Christmas led the County Executive to declare a snow emergency on December 24. The region was just beginning to thaw out when heavy rains swelled regional rivers to record levels, causing the Executive to sign a second proclamation declaring a flood emergency on January 8.

More information about disposal of flood debris is available from the King County Solid Waste Division at (206) 296-4466. Residents who have incurred uninsured property damage should report the damages and loss to the King County Emergency Management hotline at 1-800-523-5044. The hotline will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday, Jan. 16.