City, Fishline working to fix slope

Published 5:00 pm Saturday, September 2, 2006

POULSBO — With the rainy season just around the corner, officials from the city and North Kitsap Fishline are working to beat the upcoming deluges.

On Jan. 10, a section of the steep embankment behind Fishline’s 3rd Avenue building gave way and resulted in a half-day closure for the food bank.

That incident prompted city crews to install blocks at the base of the slope and remove excess vegetation until a permanent solution could be found.

“The recommendation was to install an ultrablock wall going along the toe of the slope,” said City Engineer Andrzej Kasiniak.

The wall will reach 15 feet up on the hillside with the remaining five feet being covered with vegetation to hold the rest of the slope in place, Kasiniak said.

“It will be 70 to 100 feet long with approximately 35 feet on city property and the remaining portion of Fishline’s property,” he said.

The project’s geotechnical consultant’s report showed that the core of the slope itself is stable, but the roots and trees on it aren’t, he said. The embankment is also highly prone to erosion.

The estimated cost of the entire project is $35,000, and city public works superintendent Dan Wilson has offered to have city crews do the actual work, Kasiniak said.

Mayor Kathryn Quade said the project has to be done before the end of the year.

“We’ve got to help them out and if all of us do our part, we can get it done,” Quade said.

Since neither the city nor Fishline have enough funding to pay for the project by themselves, several local contractors have answered the call for help, she said.

“Everyone I’ve talked to said they’re willing to help and Andrzej is coordinating the effort,” Quade said.

Those interested in lending a hand should contact Kasiniak in the city’s engineering department, Quade said.

“Time is critical. I’d like to have it in place by Sept. 30,” Kasiniak said. “We’re already applying for the building permits, because we want to be ready.”

Fishline executive director Margie Addington agreed with Kasiniak’s assessment of the critical need for the project.

“It’s imperative before the rains begin,” Addington said. “It isn’t going to get better.”

In order for Fishline to continue providing the myriad of services it, the slope must be repaired in an expedient manner, she said.

“It’s vital that it gets fixed, because it’s vital to what we do,” she said.

However, when it comes to paying for the project, Addington said Fishline’s board has yet to discuss that issue.

“We need to have a board meeting, and everyone involved in the project needs to discuss it,” Addington said.