POMEROY–County Engineer and Public Works Director, Grant Morgan, presented a February 2020 flood damage estimate totally $212,650 within Garfield County. The estimates are based on what it will cost the County to repair the affected areas to bring them back to the pre-flood conditions.

The county-wide flood fighting, emergency response and protective measures cost was estimated at $22,000. The following road repair estimates were also included: Pataha Creek Road, $165,150; Bosley Grade Road, $2,500; Pataha Spur Road, $15,000; Columbia Center Road, $2,000; and Howell Grade Road, $6,000. Morgan advised the BOCC that the County will submit the required paper work to be considered for State recovery assistance. If they do not receive the assistance, the County will “have to put a band-aid on things. We can’t afford to spend that much out of our budget,” said Morgan.

In addition to damage to roads, the County has incurred to date 65 hours of overtime pay for County employees, for $18,000 in expense for flood emergency operations, just in Garfield County. The County also assisted Columbia County during the flooding event, and incurred 116 hours of overtime pay, for $19,000 in expense for that aid. A reimbursement is expected from Columbia County to cover the extra expense.

Commissioner Justin Dixon read a letter received from County Prosecutor, Matt Newburg, in response to some questions that the board had about proper procedures to use when interviewing prospective applicants for a Garfield County position at the Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting February 18. The commissioners specifically asked if all three commissioners were part of an interviewing committee, would the interviews be required to part of an open public meeting. Newburg stated that if a quorum (at least two commissioners) of the board was present during the interviews, it would have to be open to the public. If they call a special executive session for the purpose of conducting interviews, with a quorum of commissioners present, it would have to be advertised for two weeks prior to the session, which would also be true for an open public meeting held outside of the regularly scheduled commissioners meetings. Newburg’s recommendation was to select an interview committee, including only one, or none of the commissioners, which could conduct the interviews and make recommendations to the board of commissioners from which to select. Due to Commissioner Bob Johnson’s absence, no decision was made.

The application period for the new position of Garfield County Maintenance worker closed on Friday, February 14, 2020. Five applications were received by the closing date and interviews will commence as soon as possible.

A prospectus for the Gould City project was approved and signed by the commissioners, with a total estimate for the project of $649,000, with $596,500 coming from federal funding. Morgan announced that if the bid estimates come in for less than expected, the County will not have any matching funds required on the project.

Bids were expected for the 2020 Seal Coat Aggregate Supply at 9:30 a.m. on this date, but none were received. The request for bids will have to be run again.

Comments will be received regarding the proposed new subdivision of Bryan Canyon Estate, which is a 77.906-acre property that will be divided into 15 lots of five to six acres each. The subdivision will be located along Almota Ferry Road, which is zoned Agriculture. The lots will be served by individual wells and septic systems, and will be accessed from Almota Ferry Road by private access roads. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 24, 2020, at 9:30 a.m., as part of the Garfield County Commissioners’ next meeting at the courthouse. Comments can be made at that time, or prior to the hearing by contacting Grant Morgan, Garfield County Public Works Director.