Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Development Assurance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bonner County approves partial release of Crystal View 2 surety while engineering completes final inspection
Summary
The board authorized a partial reduction of the Crystal View 2 project surety, leaving an amended letter of credit of $2,380,636.04; county engineering has received as-built submittals and compaction tests but cannot complete final on-site stormwater inspection until snow clears.
Bonner County commissioners on March 4 approved a partial release of the surety for the Crystal View 2 private-road project, authorizing an amended letter of credit that leaves $2,380,636.04 in county security.
Planning staff said the project entered a surety agreement on May 14, 2024, with a letter of credit equal to 150% of the engineer's cost estimate; the original surety amount in staff materials was $4,777,272.08. Phase 1 improvements were reported complete per engineering review dated Aug. 14, 2023, and the applicant requested release of 50% of the surety per condition 12 of the agreement.
County engineering reported it has received as-built submittals, compaction test results and photographs and the engineer of record provided a stamped substantial-completion certification and a remaining cost estimate for outstanding work (the engineer estimated about $127,000 remaining, per meeting remarks). The engineering department said it still needs on-site visual verification of stormwater elements and to confirm paving compaction results; those on-site checks are delayed by seasonal snow.
Some commissioners and at least one board member objected to releasing half the surety before engineering can complete its final on-site inspection. They said partial releases are sometimes followed by contractors leaving before required corrective work is finished, exposing the county and taxpayers to risk. Other commissioners expressed comfort releasing the partial amount given the volume that would remain in the surety and the engineer of record's stamped certifications.
Why it matters: The surety protects the county and taxpayers by guaranteeing funds are available to finish required infrastructure if the developer does not complete obligations. Reducing the surety raises questions about whether the retained amount is sufficient to complete outstanding work if problems arise.
Follow-up: Engineering will conduct the final on-site inspection when snow clears; the amended letter of credit will be held by the treasurer pending that final verification. Commissioners asked staff to review county procedures governing partial surety releases to strengthen protections for taxpayers.
