Tag Archives: Washtucna

Schoesler blasts Washington State Parks over Steptoe Butte, Lyons Ferry parks

One popular state park – Steptoe Butte – in eastern Washington’s 9th Legislative District is about to have a very basic service eliminated. Another state park in the district – Lyons Ferry – continues to see long delays with the reopening of its campsites. Both situations don’t sit well with 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler.

Schoesler recently learned that Washington State Parks will close the restrooms at the top of the Steptoe Butte State Park Heritage Site in Whitman County.

“While I’m happy Washington State Parks is going to repave the road to the top of Steptoe Butte, I strongly oppose the decision to end a very basic service by closing the restrooms atop the butte,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “The top of the butte is very isolated. Anyone having a picnic there will be forced to travel five miles down to the park entrance for a restroom. In what other state park would that be OK? Park lovers in our region – and I am one of them – deserve better.

“Seeing how Steptoe Butte State Park is in my district, the State Parks administration should have notified me and Representatives Schmick and Dye about the restroom closures. Instead, I found out from reading the Whitman County Gazette,” added Schoesler. “While I commend the Gazette for its reporting, you wonder why the State Parks people kept it quiet from me.”

When he inquired, Schoesler said, State Parks officials said the restrooms are being closed as part of a deal with local tribes.

“I understand that the tribes consider Steptoe Butte to be sacred ground. It is a special place for all of us. But I think this move will ruin what would otherwise be a great experience for many visitors who travel to the summit,” said Schoesler.

The Ritzville senator said Lyons Ferry State Park, located at the confluence of the Snake and Palouse rivers south of Washtucna, was reopened about 10 years ago. After the state park reopened, Schoesler said, many people in the area asked why the campsites at Lyons Ferry remain closed.

“There were public meetings with State Parks officials at Dayton and Washtucna several years ago about the campsites at Lyons Ferry and Palouse Falls state parks,” said Schoesler. “The plan was to close some campsites at Palouse Falls and reopen some of the campsites at Lyons Ferry. But the campsites at Lyons Ferry still have not reopened, and they won’t for several more years. When I pressed State Parks officials about it, they blamed the Army Corps of Engineers and claimed it will take another six years to restore water, sewer and electrical service available – and who knows how much longer to reopen the campsites after that. This is unacceptable.”

Schoesler pointed out that Lyons Ferry State Park is popular for fishing, water skiing, boating, picnicking and other recreational opportunities.

“Many hard-working taxpayers bring their boats to Lyons Ferry to enjoy a day on the water. It’s too bad that the campsites there are not open so visitors could stay overnight,” said Schoesler.

Schoesler criticized State Parks officials for not trying harder to find solutions to the issues at the Steptoe Butte and Lyons Ferry parks and for not being proactive in communicating with state legislators in the region or with local citizens about the status of the two parks.

“You’d expect a state agency would be able to work with tribal governments and the Corps and find solutions that allow these two parks to be fully used and enjoyed. Instead, it seems like the State Parks officials just threw up their hands and moved on to something else instead of finding solutions that are acceptable across the board.”

Schoesler says Senate capital budget good for state, 9th District projects

The version of the 2023-25 state capital budget unanimously passed today by the Senate would address both statewide needs and local projects, says 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler.

“The Senate’s capital budget would respond to needs all throughout Washington, and provide funding for important projects in a wide variety of categories, from education and public safety to housing and water and more,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville and the Republican lead on the Senate capital budget. “I’m pleased this budget would support many projects that will help our colleges and universities, and I’m especially glad to see money for school seismic-safety grants, which is important since our state is in earthquake country. I’m also pleased by the funding for water-supply projects, which would benefit agriculture and other water users. The Senate’s capital budget takes a statewide approach, as it should, but it also funds several projects in the 9th District.

“This is a true bipartisan capital budget in which Republicans and Democrats worked together for the good of Washington. I’m pleased with it both from a local perspective and how it would help the state overall,” added Schoesler, who has worked on the Senate capital budget since 2021.

The Senate capital budget would provide $1.2 billion for higher education, including funding for projects at Washington State University and Eastern Washington University, both in the 9th District. It also would provide significant funding to water-supply projects in the Columbia, Yakima and Chehalis River basins.

The Senate plan also would offer funding for two State Patrol crime labs, as well as the construction of criminal justice training centers in Spokane, Bellingham and Clark County so that law-enforcement officers can receive needed training closer to home. The Senate spending plan also includes $625 million for housing-related investments.

The WSU projects include:

  • Engineering Student Success Building construction ($40 million)
  • Eastlick-Abelson Hall renovation ($22 million)
  • Infrastructure improvements at Knott Dairy Farm, source of the milk for Cougar Gold cheese ($10 million)
  • Bustad Hall renovation ($8 million)
  • Clean building standard energy efficiency improvements ($5 million)

The EWU projects include:

  • Science Department renovations ($58 million)
  • Minor preservation projects ($16.75 million)
  • Rozell Plant upgrade ($12 million)
  • Martin-Williamson Hall ($350,000)

Several small school districts in the 9th District would receive funding from the Senate capital budget for planned projects:

  • Asotin/Anatone School District ($35,000)
  • Davenport School District ($25,000)
  • Garfield School District ($33,000)
  • Kahlotus School District ($38,000)
  • Oakesdale School District ($38,000)
  • Starbuck School District ($33,000)

Other school districts in the 9th District receive Senate capital budget funding for actual projects:

  • Davenport School District ($2.186 million)
  • Dayton School District ($5 million)
  • Sprague School District ($5 million)

Two 9th District projects would receive Heritage Capital Grant funding through the Senate capital budget:

  • Cheney Depot phase 4 work involving the train viewing platform ($22,000)
  • Pullman Depot Heritage Center restoration ($237,000)

Three projects in the district receive Washington Wildlife Recreation Program funding:

  • Zakarison Farmland protection ($249,000)
  • Asotin Creek Wildlife Area access points ($153,000)
  • Asotin Creek Wildlife Area campgrounds ($280,000)

There are four district projects that receive Youth Athletic Facilities funding:

  • Pomeroy ball field lighting installation ($350,000)
  • Pomeroy football field improvements ($350,000)
  • Colfax pool upgrade ($350,000)
  • Touchet Valley Golf Course irrigation ($143,000)

Other 9th District projects funded by the Senate capital budget include:

  • Colfax Pool ($706,000)
  • Dishman Hills Conservancy Education Center site planning in Spokane ($46,000)
  • EWAM handicap parking improvement project in Pomeroy ($98,000)
  • Latah water system rehabilitation project ($180,000)
  • Lincoln County Fair and Livestock ($1 million)
  • Whitman County Fire Recovery ($961,000)
  • Ritzville Legion Hall renovation ($165,000)
  • Ritzville Theater ($75,000)
  • Washtucna Town Hall ($20,000)
  • Coyote Ridge Corrections Center’s modular building for health service staff ($428,000)

The House of Representatives will unveil its capital budget proposal next week. Once the House passes its budget plan, Schoesler will meet with other Senate and House capital budget writers to reach agreement on a final version before the legislative session ends on April 23.

9th District legislators secure support in new capital budget for local projects

The 9th Legislative District team of Sen. Mark Schoesler and Reps. Mary Dye and Joe Schmick applauded today’s passage of a new two-year state capital (construction) budget that includes funding for dozens of projects in the district.

The $4.9 billion capital budget funds the construction and maintenance of state buildings, public schools, higher education facilities, public lands, parks and other assets throughout Washington. 

The Senate voted 48-0 to pass the final version of the capital budget (Substitute House Bill 1102) Saturday night. The House approved it 97-1 today.

“There were many local and community projects that Representatives Dye and Schmick and I asked to be put in either the House or Senate version of the capital budget early this session, and I’m pleased to see they are included in the final version negotiated during the past several days,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “It’s good to see that this budget will help fund our local projects.”   

“Citizens across the 9th District send a lot of their hard-earned money to Olympia in the form of taxes. The capital budget is a way to get some of that back to provide needed improvements and projects that create jobs and benefit the folks back home,” said Dye, R-Pomeroy, and a member of the House Capital Budget Committee. “I’m honored to be able to work with my seatmates and colleagues on the Capital Budget Committee to help fund these projects in the 9th District.”

“Local projects such as these help strengthen our rural communities and provide much-needed infrastructure improvements that might otherwise be financially unattainable,” said Schmick, R-Colfax.  “Legislators from the 9th District work as a team to get these needed projects into the budget.  I’m pleased with the results and know our citizens will benefit from our efforts.”

Nearly $85.7 million is appropriated for 9th District projects funded in the final capital budget, including these local projects:

  • Pullman Airport Utility Extension – $1.626 million
  • Asotin Masonic Lodge – $62,000
  • Colfax Pantry Building – $247,000
  • Garfield County Hospital HVAC system, Pomeroy – $250,000
  • Washtucna Historical Museum and Community Center roof replacement – $24,000
  • Othello regional water project – $425,000
  • Pomeroy booster pumping station – $96,000
  • Prairie View Schoolhouse Community Center, Waverly – $112,000
  • Ritzville Business and Entrepreneurship Center – $350,000
  • Rosalia sewer improvements – $500,000
  • Lions Park infields and restroom renovation in Othello – $347,000

The capital budget’s Library Capital Improvement Program provides $923,000 for the Asotin County Library Building Phase II project.

The capital budget also funds several projects at Washington State University, including $36.4 million for its Global Animal Health Building, $700,000 for improvements to facilities related to animal care, $800,000 to replace the Dairy Heifer Barn, and around $20 million for more than a dozen infrastructure or minor works projects on the Pullman campus. 

The budget provides $1.75 million for the Student Activity Center project at Walla Walla Community College’s Clarkston campus.

A request by Schoesler and 13th District Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, for funding for the North I-90 Odessa Aquifer Groundwater Replacement Project was successful, as the final capital budget provides $15 million for it.

The Othello Aquifer Storage and Recharge project receives $500,000 through the Columbia River Water Supply Development Program.