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Park County considers culvert, bridge and gravel projects as commissioners weigh SRS timing
Summary
Park County staff outlined capital requests for a Deep Creek culvert replacement, a road‑shop fluids dispensing system and bridge and gravel projects, and commissioners flagged timing risks tied to Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payments that could delay reimbursements into the next fiscal year.
Park County staff presented a bundle of roads and bridges capital requests at the April 14 workshop, highlighting a failing culvert on Deep Creek Road, a road‑shop fluids dispensing upgrade and several bridge and gravel projects.
"It is a 6 foot culvert... It's rotting out pretty bad," Matt said of the Deep Creek crossing, describing a replacement squash culvert about 8 feet wide by 6 feet tall. He told commissioners materials have already been purchased, permits are complete and hiring a contractor (estimated about $40,000) would avoid pulling county crews off routine grading work.
Matt also described a $25,000 fluids‑dispensing system for the road shop that would install pumps and dispensing nozzles on bulk drums to reduce contamination and save labor. "It'll be that way for all the different fluids he uses," he said, adding the system would be professionally installed and is expected to reduce labor time and last decades.
On bridges, staff outlined replacement of a bridge deck and one beam on the Hillary Bridge to remove a low spot and replace damaged guardrail. Matt said materials are in hand but estimated contractor costs near $60,000 — below the county's $80,000 formal bid threshold — meaning the county could request quotes rather than run a formal public bid.
A gravel resurfacing package covering Swingley Road, Oreo Creek, Old Yellowstone Trail North and Tom Miner was estimated near $250,000 and would be funded with SRS (Secure Rural Schools) payments. Commissioners pressed staff on timing: Matt said SRS disbursements are irregular, noting the county received a back payment (about $170,000) and expects a roughly $370,000 payment in April but that payouts can cross fiscal years.
Commissioners asked staff to open bids next week and then evaluate whether to use locally available material (Pierce Pit) to save hauling costs, or limit projects if per‑ton prices make distant projects uneconomical.
The commission did not take formal action; staff said they will return with bid results and timing updates.
What happens next: bids for gravel work open next week; staff will report back with the low bids and a recommendation on whether to proceed with all listed roads or defer farther projects pending cost and SRS receipts.
