Commissioners’ news
Road crews continue work, Grangemont to be closed at 9 mile marker Sept. 14-25
Rob Simon, Road and Bridge Supervisor, reported on the road work at the Aug. 10 Clearwater County Board of Commissioners meeting. The road crews are working on Seven Mile and a site above the Nine Mile Slide will be repaired with the asphalt recycling machine. The road crews moved up to Nine Mile Slide to start removing some of the ecology blocks.
There was discussion on trying to build a detour road around the slide work, but it appears that may not be feasible. There is a tremendous amount of traffic over the road. The drainage has to be fixed.
The engineer projects starting construction of the Nine Mile Slide is set for Sept. 14. Simon will get the public notified through the newspaper and radio to anticipate the Grangemont Road closure during the repair work.
The project on Cavendish Road for rehabilitation and chip sealing may still go out to bid by the end of this summer. The environmental report is completed and preliminary approval was given by the Idaho Transportation Department.
Proposed salary increases
Clerk Carrie Bird met with board to review the levy amounts in the proposed budget for all the departments. The final levy amounts were reviewed. The proposed salary increase of 3 percent across the board to the employees would create an average increase of $.39 per hour.
The consensus is to give 1.5 percent salary increase to the employees and elected officials and use the other 1.5 percent for wage study and use any remainder to fund raise increases to correct the inequities.
The consensus is to publish this final budget proposal, since no changes were made to the bottom line of the department’s budgets. The 2009/2010 FY Proposed Budget is $14,398,702.00.
Ahsahka Water Improvement Project starts
Michelle Bly and Trina Courtney, Progressive Engineering, provided an update on the Ahsahka CDBG Water Improvement project. The funding through Rural Development came back with a lower interest rate and the grant amount is lower. The residents will pay approximately $45 a month for the water instead of the projected $55 a month.
Riverview Construction was awarded the bid, which came in under the engineers specs. They have held the preconstruction meeting and mobilized equipment to the construction site.
The Board approved to sign the request for funds for the Ahsahka Water Improvement ICDBG-08-II-07-PF for $1,907 to Progressive Engineering.
Dworshak Reservoir water levels
The projects on Dworshak Dam and Reservoir were reviewed with Greg Parker, Corps of Engineers. The water levels are at the current elevation of approximately 1560 feet. It is dropping 1.1 feet a day. This is the same reduction level as previous years, but very cold temperatures. They expect to be down 65 feet by the end of August.
Recreation
The recreation on Dworshak has improved with finger dock installation at Dent Campground and additional frost free hydrants at Dent Campground by COE labor and grant funds.
Grant funds were received by the Corps for asphalt repair on the roads within Dent campground from the State of Idaho.
Large contract projects
The large contract projects were reviewed. The Hatchery Nursery Building roof was awarded to a company out of Meridian for $3.4 million. The North Tower elevators project was awarded to a company out of Florida for $962,000 with the project starting now. The Powerhouse Crane rehab was awarded and should start in August.
Stimulus projects funding
The stimulus projects funding were reviewed, the COE is to receive $4.6 billion in Congressional appropriated funds. The Walla Walla District will fund more than $37 million worth of projects. Four projects were approved to be funded for Dworshak Dam of $3.75 million. They include repairing/paving the Dent Acres Campground and repair work on Granddad Road.
The National Fish Hatchery Effluent System Upgrade Planning and Design to develop three alternatives and recommendation project has been awarded to CH2M Hill. There are numerous repairs at the fish hatchery. A complete Major Modification report and on-site visit is anticipated for August 24-25.
New/Ongoing/Other Business
The Board approved and signed the pay request No.5 for the Riverside CDBG Water Project from Walter Steed and Associates for the Riverside Water District CDBG for $3,575.00.
The Board approved and signed letters of support for two grant applications in the process for the Nez Perce Tribe for Broadband Initiatives Program and for North Central Idaho Multi-User Network-First Step Internet through BIP-BTOP Funding.
Expense claims
July 2009 expense claims were approved and ordered to be paid in the following amounts: Current Expense -$22,711.98; Road and Bridge -$57,804.94; Ambulance -$1046.01; District Court-$4,014.33; Justice Fund-$47,918.38; Drug Court -$17; Health Department-$15,718.25; Social Services - $17,855.47; Parks & Recreation - $1430.24; Revaluation - $959.17; Enhanced 911 - $5,994.45; Solid Waste - $24,994.41; Current Expense Tort-$4,972.18; Weeds -$4319.70; Waterways-$920.79; Dent Bridge Trust-$10,154.33; Insurance & Grants-$510,334; Hospital Loan Trust Account-$6,712.58. Total expenses for July were $737,878.21.
There were three executive sessions held to discuss personnel and indigent matters. Present for the meeting was Chairman Don Ebert and Commissioner John Allen and Commissioner Stan Leach.