County public works outlines $300,000 box-culvert replacement, funding gaps and legislative concerns

Okanogan County public works staff told commissioners the county is designing a precast box-culvert replacement for a rusted 15- to 16-foot-span structure and expects the project's cost to be roughly $300,000, largely for county forces plus a crane subcontractor.

"Cost wise, we're looking at probably $300,000 or so," the Public Works Director said. Staff described the structure as a precast box culvert that will be set on an over-excavated base course; fish-passage and permitting requirements from Fish and Wildlife are increasing clearance demands and will require the county to raise the road a few feet.

Why it matters The culvert work is intended to restore a deteriorated crossing that is currently restricted by weight limits and steel plates; raising the road and meeting fish-passage clearances increases construction complexity and cost. Staff said some RACK funds (recreation/park/road-related funding used for the Crawfish Snow Park) are in a temporary gap while additional funds are held up, leaving limited ability to respond to urgent needs until funds are released.

Details from discussion - Project type: precast box culvert with integral base; work will require over-excavation and base-course placement; county forces will perform most work and a crane contractor will set the structure. - Estimated cost: about $300,000 (county forces + crane subcontractor). The Public Works Director noted inflation in construction costs and rising regulatory requirements are driving higher estimates. - Permits and environmental compliance: staff said Fish and Wildlife asked for increased clearance over water and county staff have met regarding permit requirements; the crossing is typically dry by August but will require demonstration to regulators regarding design and flood conditions. - Funding: staff said rack funds for the Crawfish Snow Park have been used and additional funds are delayed; county is working to bridge the funding gap.

Legislative and policy concerns Public works staff described several pending or proposed state-level changes that could affect county road maintenance budgets. They referenced a proposed DNR fee increase in a bill identified in the meeting as "Senate Bill 5319," which staff estimated could cost the public-works program about $25,000 per year if enacted. Staff also reported that a bill affecting revenue sharing for automated traffic enforcement had language to redirect half of local revenue to other uses, and another bill on load tarping (referred to as Senate Bill 5215) largely exempted county works departments following the county's recommendations.

Tribal outreach and a proposed per-mile tax County staff said tribal officials reached out seeking input on a potential per-mile tax; the tribe's position, as conveyed to county staff, was strongly opposed because long travel distances make such a tax proportionally heavier on rural drivers. Commissioners said they share that opposition and planned continued discussions with tribal representatives.

Ending Commissioners asked staff to continue permitting coordination with Fish and Wildlife and to report back with funding options for the culvert replacement and other high-priority road work as grant and local funds become available.