Emergency mgmt. contracts signed, Electrical bids opened, USFS mgmt. discussed

 

July 7, 2022



POMEROY–The Garfield County board of commissioners (BOCC) authorized contracts, opened bids, and met with Unites States Forest Service officials at their meeting on June 27.

Two contracts with the Washington State Military Department regarding Garfield County’s emergency management operations were signed. Contract E23-012 contracts for basic service operations for the 2023 fiscal year and provides $572,991 for Garfield County’s emergency management. Contract E22-300 is an equipment contract providing $114,000 for a new phone system. The County will match $28,000.

Bids for the electricity project at the Garfield County Fairgrounds were opened. Chris’ Professional Electric bid $69,251.53, Flynn’s Electric bid 73,339.18, and Walla Walla Electric bid 104,750.40. The bids will be reviewed by County Engineer Grant Morgan, who will submit his recommendation to the board at their next meeting. The bids are all over the engineer’s estimate of $50,000.

Pomeroy District Ranger Susan Piper, Umatilla Forest Supervisor Eric Watrud, and Public Affairs Officer Darcy Weseman met with the BOCC to discuss forest plans moving forward. The Lick Creek and Green Ridge wildfires of 2021 changed the focus of management operations to salvage harvesting. An analysis has identified 3,000 non-continuous as containing danger trees – dead, heavily scorched, or likely to fall in five years. A further 1,000 acres have been cleared for commercial harvest. Authorization for the salvage harvest is dependent upon an Emergency situation Determination, which is currently being reviewed by the USFS national office. A decision is expected at the end of July. County Commissioner Jim Nelson expressed his appreciation of the information sharing that the Pomeroy Ranger District has engaged in. “You have been good neighbors,” Commissioner Nelson said. “We feel the same,” Supervisor Watrud said.

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