Sewer progress in Hadlock

County crews continue to lay pipeline for the Port Hadlock sewer project, with crews pushing into the four-way stop at the Port Hadlock QFC this week, and working up Ness’s Corner Road toward Masonic Hall Road.

Motorists may encounter flaggers on project area roads and intersections, and may experience minor traffic delays.

Beginning July 1, work started on Masonic Hall Road, at Ness’ Corner Road, to approximately 600 feet north of Matheson Street.

Work will continue east on Matheson Street to Curtiss Street. Sewer line will be constructed south on the west side of Irondale Road from Matheson Street for approximately 375 feet.

Sewer line will also be constructed south on Alley Street to Curtiss Street, then both east and west on Curtiss Street, south on Scott Road to an easement behind the Kivley Center.

Where the sewer line on Matheson meets Curtiss Street, a sewer line will be constructed both north and south on Curtiss Street and continue along a trail leading to the Ajax Cafe parking lot.

JeffCo and state housing prices

A recent National Low Income Housing Coalition report ranked Washington’s housing costs fifth-highest in the nation, and also shows Jefferson County’s fair market rental price averages are significantly lower than state averages.

Compared to the state averages, the cost of a rental in Jefferson County is 20% lower than state averages.

The fair market rental report measures the cost ratio of a two-bedroom home rental in relation to the number of full-time jobs required to rent a home in Jefferson County.

Additionally, the report measures the number of rental opportunities in relation to home ownership in Jefferson County.

On average, 36% of all homes are rented in Washington, but Jefferson County rental opportunities are only 20%, about 45% below the state average.

Washington’s statewide average number of rentals is 36%, but Jefferson County rental opportunities are only 20%, or about 45% below state averages.

Wildfire victims expenses extended

Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is asking insurers to extend the additional living expenses benefit for wildfire victims who are nearing their 12-month limit on that coverage.

Many policies that include additional living expenses coverage, which provide funds to pay for temporary housing while a primary residence is being rebuilt, also contain a clause that ends coverage after 12 months.

The plan is for information collected in the data call to be aggregated to provide a picture of the wildfire losses impacting Washington’s residents.

The first report is due July 31 through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ website.

The request follows Spokane-era fires, which began on Aug. 18, 2023.

More than 350 Washington residences were damaged or destroyed.

The coverages Kreidler referenced would end in August if insurance companies take no action.