The County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a maintenance agreement for the Bridal wetland development project during its meeting, moving the project toward final design and construction. The board’s motion to approve the agreement was made by Supervisor Helmers and supported by Supervisor Loring and was adopted by voice vote.

County staff member Ben Spencer, on the phone, told the board he had met with the county conservation board and that the board was comfortable taking on the maintenance responsibility for the wetland after construction. Spencer said the next administrative step is to present the signed maintenance agreement to the county soil and water conservation district, which would hold the agreement and — if it approves — sign it. After district approval, Spencer explained, the project would receive final design and proceed to bidding and construction.

Spencer also told supervisors he would confirm procedural questions raised during discussion, including whether the final agreement must be recorded with the county recorder and which office would file it. He said he would check with Matt Lickenburg at the state and report back. Board members asked staff to deliver the original agreement to the district office; a board member referenced an August 12 date for district consideration and asked staff to provide draft minutes and the original agreement to the district beforehand.

Supervisors discussed who should sign for the county and for the landowner; the board indicated it was acceptable for local supervisors (chair and vice chair) to sign as the county landowner and for landowners Jerry and Jason to sign on their side. No dollar amounts or construction timelines were specified at the meeting.

The approval is a county-level step that, per staff comments, depends on subsequent district acceptance and completion of final design before bidding and construction can begin. Spencer closed his remarks by saying he would notify the project team that the board approved the maintenance agreement and would follow up on the recording and next steps.