Road & Bridge directors sign off on senior shop foreman description, set move schedule for new shop and back a BUILD grant

The Valley County Road & Bridge department won commissioner approval March 2 for a revised senior shop foreman job description and for a schedule change that shifts most of the Gold Dust shop move into April, officials said.

Directors presented a revised job description that formalizes expectations for a senior shop foreman, including diesel-mechanic certification and a proposed minimum of 10 years' experience for the managerial role. Commissioners approved the revision.

Director Dietrich said the department will require a 24-to-36-hour IT shutdown to transfer shop IT equipment and a multi-week soft shutdown while crews move heavy equipment, parts and welding gear to the new facility. "We're going to need to shut down completely for 24 to 36 hours to move our IT equipment," Dietrich said, adding that crews will maintain emergency road response during the move.

The board also approved a letter of support and signatures for a Fiscal Year 2026 BUILD grant application for the West Mountain Corridor. Dietrich outlined additional capital needs tied to the new shop including a prefabricated mezzanine for storage and a larger equipment shed; staff said some items will require procurements, CIP budgeting and possible use of carryover funds.

Directors discussed procurement thresholds, recommendation of multi-quote or RFP processes for larger buys, and possible cost-recovery agreements with private applicants who require substantial county plan review and permitting support. Staff said they will return with specific cost estimates and vendor quotes for major shop purchases.

Next steps: finalize move dates with IT and the architect punch list, schedule the shop switchover, and return with detailed quotes for the prefabricated storage system and other purchases for commissioner approval.