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Glacier County approves equipment repairs, buys new road system as staff readies East Marias road for solar project traffic
Summary
Commissioners approved a replacement CAT grader door and a new mobile board system and were briefed on a developer-funded road treatment for an incoming solar farm that staff say will require heavy truck access. Insurance, repair costs and vendor pricing were discussed.
Glacier County commissioners on Aug. 26 approved several road‑maintenance equipment purchases and heard from staff about work preparing East Marias and Sullivan Bridge roads for heavy traffic tied to a nearby solar farm.
The board voted to buy a replacement CAT grader door for $5,578.37 after a training incident rendered the existing door beyond repair; staff said the county will pay a roughly $4,500 deductible and expect insurance to reimburse the difference. "We were training a new guy in there, and he got cut loose on his own...the door got tweaked so bad that we couldn't salvage it," said an equipment supervisor during the discussion.
Commissioners also approved purchasing a new mobile board system (referred to in the record as an NHL / MHL Scar system). Staff said a vendor offered a new unit at about $6,007.07 but the total cited in the discussion was $6,607.64 after other adjustments; staff explained that refurbishment used to cost about $400 but recent refurbishment quotes ran much higher. "We were gonna get this refurbished...the guy called me and said we've been with you for so many years...how about we sell you a brand new system at that price," staff said.
Public‑works staff updated the board on preparations for a solar panel project using East Marias and Sullivan Bridge roads. The contractor has agreed to pay for application of magnesium chloride to stabilize the road, staff reported, estimating about four semi loads and roughly $40,000 for the material. "They're going to have like 100 semis come in a day...that's going to be intensive," staff said; crews have reshaped the road, applied new gravel and planned chloride application to reduce dust and wear.
Commissioners asked operational questions, including whether a nearby bridge would be used; staff said the heavy loads would not cross the bridge but would use other access points. The purchases and road work were presented as routine maintenance and repair to keep county equipment and routes operating during the construction period. The measures passed by voice vote.
The next procedural step is for staff to complete the purchases and proceed with chloride application as scheduled; staff indicated the road work would be rolled out over the next one to two weeks.
