ROYAL CITY — Public works projects were the primary topic of discussion at the Royal City City Council meeting Tuesday. 

Public Works Director John Lasen first raised the question of putting up a sign at the Royal City Dog Park, setting out rules for the park’s use.

“There's obvious things we don’t want to take place up there so that it's user-friendly for anybody that wants to use it,” Lasen said. “And we don't want it to become a place where dogs end up getting sick because people don't take care of their animals but they're bringing them up there.”

Lasen had taken his design for a sign to a local business, he said, and the list of 16 rules would set the city back about $2,000.

“That’s a lot of writing,” said Council Member Ryan Piercy.

“Is there even a bulletin board up there such as at the cemetery where you could (put the list of rules) behind the plexiglass?” asked Council Member Rick Kannely.

“I want to stay away from the bulletin board because bulletin boards can be vandalized,” Lasen answered.

Signs can be vandalized too, Lasen added, but part of the cost the sign business quoted included a paint- and UV-resistant paint.

Several council members thought 16 rules were a bit more than needed. Kannely pulled up a sign from a similar park on his phone as a sample of what rules would be necessary.

“Dogs with registration and current vaccinations only. That's going to be pretty restrictive,” he said. “Limit of 15 dogs at a time. No females in heat. Must be in view and control of your dog at all times. Dispose of waste immediately. No barking and damage, children closely supervised, animal and human food treats are not permitted. And that’s all the rules they have.”

Lasen invited council members to email him any further suggestions for rules and phrasing.

The city’s water main project is coming along, albeit more slowly than expected, Lasen told the council.

“Every couple of weeks, we have a meeting with the contractor and discuss issues that have come up,” Lasen said. “And that has been a part of a topic every time. This is supposed to be done by the end of March, and if they don't pick the pace up, I don't see how they can meet that.”

Mayor Michael Christensen asked if Anderson Perry, the engineering firm in charge of the project, had an inspector keeping an eye on the project.

“I guess my concern is that when someone gets rushed to complete the job, the work gets rushed as well,” Christensen said. “Are they there making sure that yes, the job is being done properly?

There are two people from Anderson Perry at the site consistently, Lasen said, but their job consists of more than just inspecting. They also have to make sure the contractor’s employees are paid properly, and monitor equipment use, and be prepared to make changes to the specifications if something unexpected arises in the construction process.

“He's not just sitting in the truck drinking coffee,” Lasen said, adding that he also goes out to the job site frequently himself to monitor progress.

One issue with the work is that there’s no place local for workers to stay, and so most of them are driving long distances to and from the job every day, which made coming to Royal City dangerous during the winter.

“They're all commuting from either Walla Walla or Tri-Cities every day” Lasen said. “That was one of the problems that they were having was their employees were like, ‘We don't want to drive in this weather,’ because it's putting them at risk.”

The workers aren’t paid for their commuting time, Lasen added.

“Their eight-hour day starts when they get here,” he said. “So they’re leaving Walla Walla and Tri-Cities at four and five o’clock respectively to get up here in time to get started.”

Joel Martin may be reached at jmartin@columbiabasinherald.com.