Pierce County Council Does Not Plan to Address Local Traffic Problems

Three new members, including District 1 representative Dan Roach, were sworn in to the Pierce County Council on Tuesday, Jan. 11, and the legislative branch’s season officially started that same afternoon.

The County Council makes decisions, like prioritizing highway construction projects or flood and disaster control, for the second-largest county in Washington state.

One item that does not seem to have made the County Council agenda is traffic projects, as on State Route 410 and other critical transportation points in East Pierce. Roach told Patch that the Council's six-year transportation improvement plan does not address fixing the intersection at 166th Street or any other major local projects.

Roach, who officially began his role on the County Council on Tuesday, represented the 31st District in the Washington State House of Representatives for 10 years. He succeeded Shawn Bunney in the District 1 County Council position, which covers most of East Pierce County. Other new County Council members include Rick Talbert (District 5) and Stan Flemming (District 7).

At the regular meeting following the swearing-in ceremony, Pierce County councilmembers re-elected Roger Bush as their chairman, for the third consecutive year.

"I am honored to continue serving my fellow councilmembers and the citizens of Pierce County," Bush said. "We have made a lot of tough but strategic decisions as we re-size county government, and my intent is to stay on a path of sustainable operations that emphasizes core services -- mainly public safety."

Bush will serve as chair of the County Council, Joyce McDonald (District 2) as vice president and Dick Muri (District 6) as executive pro tem. As chair, Bush presides over all meetings and McDonald will stand in if he is unable. The executive pro tem performs some of the County Executive’s duties in the event of the executives’ absence.

Roach will vice-chair the Community Development Committee and also participate in the Economic and Infrastructure Development, Public Safety and Human Services committees.

Roach owns and operates in Sumner with his wife, Melanie. , where she talked about being an Olympic weightlifter and gym owner, and how she balances it with caring for her children, one of whom is autistic.