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Grant Coulee turned down the idea of turning over a stretch of B Street to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation near where USBR’s new fire station is being built. 

The idea came up in May at the city’s council meeting with possible benefits including not having to maintain the road and putting the dollar savings towards other streets. 

B Street is currently closed from where it intersects Division Street to SR-155 because of construction on the USBR fire station being built along SR-155. 

The street is also used as an alternative route through and around town in case SR-155 is closed and for other possible emergency situations. 

Mayor Paul Townsend noted having bad dealings with the bureau on other topics as a reason for not wanting to turn the street over to them.

“I realized they really do not care about the people in this area,” Townsend said at the July 16 city council meeting. “And they have no qualms about changing rules as they go along. And I don’t trust them. And I don’t think we should give it up.”

Townsend stressed the importance of having the street for emergency access, to which Dennis Francis, the public works supervisor for the city, noted that USBR owns “Industrial Way” between the edge of B Street and SR-155, and could still block off access from the highway. 

“We’re gonna get through it,” Townsend replied. “I’m not gonna make it OK for them.” 

A man in the crowd thanked Townsend for his position on the topic.