Commissioners ratify emergency repair contract for County Road 361 rockfall; total costs approach $290,000

County staff told the Board the recent rockfall on County Road 361 caused more extensive damage than initial estimates and ratified EarthTech West’s proposal to repair the Hillfrigger Wall.

Staff described a growing total cost that includes EarthTech’s work (an estimate of about $107,390) plus engineering invoices and equipment rental. “We're looking at more around 290,000, including the equipment that Road and Bridge rented,” a staff presenter said. The county had received separate invoices for equipment rental and engineering, and staff said some earlier estimates from the mine were informal cost suggestions rather than invoices.

Commissioners said they had already authorized a ratification to allow immediate work but raised questions about funding and long-term policy: “I think if we had another major incident like this, on 361, I'd need to have a conversation about how much is this road really worth, and can we afford to rebuild it again?” a commissioner said, adding concern that multiple such incidents would strain county emergency funds.

County staff said the mine had offered equipment and operators rather than cash and that the Forest Service administers a separate emergency-repair reimbursement program that would be a multiyear process and therefore not likely to produce quick reimbursements this season.

The board ratified EarthTech West’s proposal; staff said they will fund the repair from a mix of emergency funds and other departmental budgets and continue to seek reimbursement or in-kind support where available.