CLEARWATER TRIBUNE HOME

AUGUST 5, 2010

Clearwater County Commissioners news

Outdrive on big jet boat to be rebuilt

Emergency funding received from State Waterways’ fund

   Sheriff Goetz provided a report at the July 26 Clearwater County Commissioners’ meeting that the out drive on the big jet boat is having a problem. The out drive was temporarily  repaired. A new one costs approximately $6,000; a rebuild is $4500 and the repair could take four weeks. They applied for emergency funding from the State Waterways funding since it was purchased with WIF funds. The State approved the emergency funds in the amount of $4500. There shouldn’t be any match funds necessary from the County.

Emergency Management

   Don Gardner, Emergency Management, reported on the Railroad. The Emergency Operation Plan is finished and he is meeting with the cities to have them sign off on it and adopt it. All Hazard Mitigation Plan is being worked and there are three public meetings scheduled next week.

Road crew

   Rob Simon reported on the road crew work. The road crew worked on grader patching on Dent Road and Cavendish Road. The blade patching is completed as prep work for the Cavendish Road Chip Sealing Project.

   The contractor on the Grangemont Road project has closed off Cow Creek Road so they could start crushing. There is work cleaning the ditch on the upper end.

   The brushing is still being worked on the Grangemont Road with the brusher and some hand falling of larger trees out of the right of way. There is approximately $15,000 left in the brushing funds. The chip seal laid on the one section of the Grangemont Road looks good and no loose rock is left.

   There are several engineering firms interested in the Bruce’s Dairy Bridge project. They will be submitting RFQs for the project. The review committee will be made up of two County representatives and two LHTAC representatives.

Biomass Utilization Feasibility Study

   The Board held an interview with McKinstry Essention, Inc, group on the Biomass Utilization Feasibility Study for a Biomass Energy Plant for Clearwater County. The group was joined by Chris St. Germaine and Loren Whitten-Kaboth, Clearwater County Economic Development, Teresa Carlin, ICI-O Warden and Bruce Hansen, Soil and Water Conservation Board. McKinstry specializes in development and utilization biomass energy production. They bring to the study experience on projects for energy conservation and facility improvement for public institutions to analyze long term financial and operational sense for biomass energy in place of fuel oil, propane, coal, electricity or natural gas. They focus on ways that agencies can benefit from using a local, sustainable, carbon-neutral energy source.

   The Board interviewed Siemens Energy team for the Biomass Utilization Feasibility Study. The engineers from Wylie Wilson Engineering firm will provide the feasibility study since they are an integral part of Siemens Industry Inc. Siemens Building and Technology deployed the Energy team which did the procurement, study and provided information on funding the facility. They are responsible for the study, financing options and equipment integration.

   There were three executive sessions held to discuss personnel and indigent matters.

   Present for the meeting were Chairman Don Ebert and Commissioner John Allen and Commissioner Stan Leach.