SeaTac now has a franchise agreement for a pipeline containing flammable jet fuel that flows through the city.

Lawmakers approved Jan. 24 an annual $12,960 franchise fee for the Olympic Pipeline Co.

The fee will be adjusted yearly for inflation.

Olympic will also pay a one-time $2,000 application fee.

Olympic had a franchise agreement with King County before SeaTac incorporated. However, the pact expired in 1989.

After the deadly 1989 pipeline explosion in Bellingham, cities began to require franchise agreements.

Public Works Director Dale Schroeder said staffers have been negotiating with Olympic for several years.

The pipeline carries fuel to Sea-Tac International Airport.

Assistant City Attorney Mark Johnsen reported Olympic pays neighboring Tukwila a $500 per year franchise fee.

However, Tukwila's franchise agreement has been in effect for several years, Johnsen added.

SeaTac's agreement calls for Olympic to pay some of the cost for roadwork if the pipeline interferes with street projects.

The company must also maintain insurance including $100 million for commercial general liability and $50 million for environmental pollution liability.

In other business, council members delayed action on authorizing condemnation proceedings for a widening project on Military Road South.

Lawmakers are expected to give authorization at their next meeting on Feb. 14.

However, Councilman Joe Brennan raised his familiar objection to discussing a new item at a study session and then approving it on the same night without prior committee consideration.

The request was scheduled to go before the Transportation and Public Works Committee before the study session. Chairman Don DeHan was absent so the meeting was canceled.

Brennan has long objected to the council's revised schedule. Some committee meetings, the study session and regular meeting are now held the same day.

Previously, the council held study sessions to discuss proposed ordinances on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. On alternate Tuesdays, lawmakers held meetings where they voted on the legislation.

Now the two meetings are held back-to-back on the second and fourth Tuesdays.

Brennan said the press should be allowed to notify readers of proposed legislation and residents should be given time to give their opinions before ordinances are passed.

Also he argued, "Any condemnation shouldn't go through in one night when you are taking somebody's property -- even a small portion."

Councilman Chris Wythe countered that a condemned property's owner would receive fair market value for the land after a reasonable negotiation.

"We don't want to slow this project down," Wythe added. "This project will well serve the citizens along Military Road.

Schroeder emphasized that no property is being considered for condemnation yet because negotiations are ongoing.

The council's action would authorize future condemnation proceedings if needed.

He agreed that a delay in council approval would not adversely affect the project. Construction bids are set to go out in late spring.

The city will widen Military Road South to three lanes between South 176th Street and South 188th Street.

Underground utilities, curbs and sidewalks will also be installed.

Small portions of some properties may need to be purchased, Schroeder said.

Tyee High School, Seattle Christian School and Valley View Library are along the route.

Highline School Board President Phyllis Byers also thanked lawmakers for appropriating funds for a student health clinic at Tyee High School.

She said the district expects to sign an agreement for the clinic in the next few weeks.

"It will be a wonderful addition to our community," Byers concluded.