Public works update: North 500 West project moves toward selecting construction engineering team; county weighs Super 8 waterline help and transfer‑station site

Public Works Director Daryl Johnson briefed the Teton County Board of Commissioners on several capital and operational matters on Jan. 31, seeking direction on consultant selection for a federally funded road project, discussing an owner request for county participation in extending city water to the fairgrounds area and describing transfer‑station needs and surplus asset sales.

North 500 West (locally called Valley View) has federal funding and is scheduled to open construction bids March 5, with contracts to begin between April 14 and June 2 and a 70‑workday substantial completion requirement. Because the project uses federal funds, federal rules require the county to contract separately for construction engineering and inspection (CEI) services; Johnson proposed inviting three firms from the Idaho Transportation Department’s approved list and asked the board to name committee members to solicit and review RFIs. Commissioners asked to be involved; Commissioner James volunteered to serve on the selection committee and the board agreed the committee would include Public Works staff, the county road supervisor and Commissioner James.

Johnson also outlined a request from the owners of the Super 8 motel — located on the edge of town near the fairgrounds — who plan to extend city water to the motel and asked whether the county would consider cost‑sharing for the extension. Johnson said the owner indicated the line would run to the northeast corner of the motel property and that city staff said statutes permit non‑annexed fairgrounds to receive city water. Commissioners asked Johnson to obtain an engineer’s estimate and verification of whether annexation would be required, and suggested options such as a payoff agreement if the city later annexed the property.

On solid‑waste operations, Johnson reviewed a recent transfer‑station audit that recommended short‑, mid‑ and long‑term improvements. The county has set aside money and intends to pursue a consultant to prepare design and campus plans for a scalehouse and new crew building. Johnson said those priorities could be bid this year and that the county has revenue projected to cover phased work. He also explained a $49,000 charge on the consent agenda was a multiyear battery‑recycling pickup and disposal cost that covered three years of accumulating batteries of various sizes and associated diversion handling costs.

Johnson asked permission to salvage equipment that failed to sell at publicsurplus auction after prior listing; the board approved the motion to salvage unsold road and bridge equipment and directed staff to proceed. The board also agreed on a draft process to pursue CEI firm RFIs for North 500 West and the membership of the selection committee.

Ending: Commissioners directed staff to bring cost estimates for the Super 8 water extension, proceed with consultant recruitment for North 500 West CEI services and move forward with transfer‑station planning and salvaging unsold equipment.