This week I joined Centralia and Lewis County officials for a ceremony to kick-off the construction season at the long awaited Borst Avenue project.

The street remained dangerous and deteriorating for more than 40 years until students from the Centralia High School student government approached the City and County in 2016 for help repairing the road.

This issue was very personal to me, which is why I advocated strongly for the project. My wife is a teacher at the Middle School and my children are students in Centralia. If I was not willing to send my children walking down Borst Avenue then I could expect other parents. And we all did something about it.

The city and county worked together with SCJ alliance and held numerous public meetings. In 2017, I was proud to move to amend the City of Centralia‘s letter of intent to the State Transportation Improvement Board and increase our commitment (as well as likelihood) of securing the necessary funds for the Safety Improvement Project to 30% match.

Ultimately the City and County were awarded the grant and the project will begin this summer. Centralia School District 401 students and City of Centralia residents should feel safe walking along Borst Avenue. We should all be grateful that Centralia ASB members like Morgan Fast, Kennedy Woods, Mackenzie Neely, and Amber Johnson presented to the City and County. They truly represent how government should work and how things should get done!

Congratulations Centralia ASB and all the community partners that made this project a reality after so many years. Collaboration, Partnerships, and responding to the needs of our community got this project started. Thank you to all involved.