News in Brief: House Republicans on State Transportation System: Fix It Before You Fund It; Napavine to Show Support of Second Amendment Gun Rights

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House Republicans on State Transportation System: Fix It Before You Fund It

By The Chronicle

20th District House Republicans Rep Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, and Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, say they will seek support for six economic and transportation reforms before they consider a House Democratic package to raise the state gas tax by 10 cents.

According to DeBolt and Orcutt, those reforms could be realized via House Bill 1236, which would require state agencies to make permit decisions in 90 days or the permits are granted; House Bill 1619, which would suspend Growth Management Act requirements in counties with persistent unemployment; House Bill 1985, which would exempt future state transportation projects from state and local sales and use tax; House Bill 1986, which would require WSDOT to report to the Legislature on engineering errors and mistakes that exceed $500,000; House Bill 1984, which would limit WSDOT’s tort liability based on the amount of the department’s actual fault; and House Bill 1989, which would limit bond terms for transportation projects to 15 years.

“We are concerned about signing a multibillion dollar check to a group of state lawmakers who have neglected the economy and failed to properly manage the last gas tax increase,” House Republican Leader Richard DeBolt said. “We need jobs, accountability and taxpayer protections. Our solutions reflect these goals.”

 

Napavine to Show Support of Second Amendment Gun Rights 

By The Chronicle 

The Napavine City Council will vote on Tuesday night in support of Second Amendment rights.

“It’s about the right to bear arms,” Mayor John Sayers said. “We want to support the Second Amendment with all the issues going on about gun control right now.” 

Sayers will present the resolution to the council, who will then vote to confirm the city’s support behind the Second Amendment. 



Sayers said other cities in the region have also showed support to the Second Amendment by passing resolutions to encourage state and federal lawmakers to not infringe upon those rights.

The Woodland City Council passed the resolution 5-2 on March 4. 

Napavine City Council will meet on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 407 Birch Ave. SW.

 

Hub City Community Gardens to Decide Future at March 19 Meeting

By The Chronicle 

Faced with the possibility of dissolving due to a lack of volunteer support and funding, the nonprofit Hub City Community Gardens will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, March 19, from  5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Centralia Timberland Library meeting room to decide the future of the garden. 

Volunteer board member Colleen Stewart said the purpose of the meeting will be to explain the envisioned scope of the garden and to ask for volunteers and people who will seriously commit to be on the board of directors.

The community garden  — which broke ground late in the growing season last June on an empty  2.66-acre lot at 1209 Woodland Ave. in Centralia — recently lost four volunteer board members from the group of seven for various personal reasons.

To get involved with the garden, call (206) 484-8445 or visit the nonprofit’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hubcitycommunitygardens.