County Engineer Josh Thompson updated the board on road projects and maintenance operations, reporting progress on chip seal work, completion of paving on Old 97 and miscellaneous projects such as a vault toilet installation at Whistler Canyon. He also warned that rising costs for materials and labor will create budget pressures for the department.

Thompson said the chip‑seal contractor had completed Brewster-area work and planned to return to Wolf Creek to repair rain damage with a hand wand and a short chip‑seal overlay. He added the Old 97 reconstruction paving was completed and crews would wait about three weeks for hot mix to cure before final striping. “The old '97 reconstruction project, they paved, last week. So that's was completed on Friday… now they just have to wait 3 weeks for the hot mix to cure before they can scribe,” Thompson said.

Thompson also described a plan to test and compare gravel from county pits, and predicted the department would face budget shortfalls next year because of rising costs and limited levy increases. The group discussed how cutting standard maintenance such as chip seal would create longer‑term deterioration and that reducing staff in shops would slow plow routes and winter response. Thompson said some counties are considering levies or different staffing models; commissioners noted the larger counties have much larger road levies and resources.

No formal budget action was taken at the meeting; staff said they will complete a budget picture by the end of the week and that further discussions about possible service reductions and supplemental budget moves would follow.