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County engineer reports chip-seal prep, guardrail and grant shortfall; well drilling moved after silt findings
Summary
County Engineer Josh Thompson briefed commissioners on spring road work, a guardrail project advanced to May 19, an Old 97 rebuild starting June 2, a DOE-funded mulching head retrofit, and that federal SRS funds to the county fell to $84,000. He also reported a drilling relocation after a test well returned mostly silt.
County Engineer Josh Thompson told the Okanogan County Board of Commissioners on April 30, 2025 that road crews are in spring prep for chip seal and that two contracted construction projects will begin this summer: a guardrail replacement project (start moved up to May 19) and an Old 97 pavement rebuild scheduled to start June 2.
Thompson said the county received $84,000 in State Reimbursement/Shared Revenue (SRS) funds this year, down from the larger sums previously received; he contrasted the $84,000 payment with prior disbursements the county had expected. "We received $84,000," Thompson said, noting the change in the reverted policy used to calculate the amount.
Thompson described negotiations with the town (recorded as "Twist" in the transcript) over annexing the road into the town limits from Highway 97 to the airport to support utility loops and development; town leaders had expressed concerns about snow removal capacity if they took on full control. The county engineer said the town may annex the road whether or not adjacent south-side property owners choose to join; commissioners signaled general support to proceed with discussions.
On equipment and grants, Thompson outlined a DOE grant to retrofit the county's excavator with a mulching attachment. The purchase price and retrofit were described as roughly a $32,000 purchase and a $38,000 retrofit to add hydraulics and controls; the retrofit work can proceed immediately if authorized and completed by the grant deadline in June.
Thompson also reported on recurring road complaints: a segment leading to an airport (recorded as "Tenaska" in the transcript) that would be extremely expensive to bring to county standards because of alignment and steep slopes. He said an alternative route off Pine Creek might be feasible but would likely require property acquisition and possibly a bridge; distance-wise the alternate route could add roughly a mile to one and a half miles depending on alignment.
On water infrastructure, commissioners discussed a recent test well site near the AGRIPLEX that produced large quantities of very fine silt rather than the larger granular rock needed for a high-yield irrigation well. Thompson said drillers found water but the tailings showed mostly fine sand and clay; crews planned to move the drilling location about 100'150 yards to align with nearby productive wells where rockier material was expected.
Other items Thompson raised included authorization to purchase weed-spray materials off state contract and ongoing work on local speed-limit updates and exhaust-brake signage on state routes. He also noted the department's preparation for chip-seal operations and routine maintenance scheduling.
Thompson closed by asking the board for authorization to proceed with the DOE retrofit and to begin work on the guardrail contract as material deliveries allowed. Commissioners did not take separate roll-call votes on those discussion items during the report; several items were included in the consent agenda and authorizations later in the meeting.
