POMEROY–The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) signed a Rock Royalty Payment and Quarry Site contract with Tom Schuster for the use of the Schuster rock pit at their meeting on February 28. The contract is for six years. The county will pay 45 cents a ton for aggregate and 60 cents a yard for pit run.

Commissioner Justin Dixon brought Governor Inslee’s Lower Snake River Dam Benefit Replacement Study to the board’s attention. The study is to determine the benefit of dam removal. “Thirty-three percent of Washington agriculture would be impacted by the removal of dams,” Commissioner Dixon said. He does not support their removal, and encouraged giving comment on the study’s website. Full story on front page of the East Washingtonian, this edition.

The Board also passed Resolution 2022-07, creating a policy to document county inventory that has a value greater than $1,000. The policy has been in draft stages for several weeks.

County Engineer Grant Morgan announced his intention to reprioritize the Road Crew’s efforts to focus on fixing the gravel roads this spring. He stated that oil prices put the road rebuilding project discussed on February 22 on hold.

The BOCC discussed quotes for replacing the county’s emergency communication repeaters. They received two quotes, one for $60,991.50 from Day Wireless and one for $68,483.46 from Valence. The commissioners have postponed decision on the quotes to make some inquiries on the project.

BOCC also discussed the fairgrounds sprinkler system at their meeting on February 22. County Engineer Grant Morgan said that some of the materials for building the system may run into supply chain issues.

The federally funded paving project that was discussed in November of 2021 was brought up again. The project cost is now estimated at $1,800,000 and may result in cash flow issues for the county in the spring.

County Treasurer Teresa Summers requested to surplus a 2002 letter paper folder. Her request was approved by the board.