Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sandpoint selects Planet Geo for inventory update; city to trap spongy moths and federal grant delays intersection work
Summary
The commission selected Planet Geo to update Sandpoint’s tree inventory (estimated ~$50,000, IRA grant-funded), learned that Idaho Department of Lands will expand spongy moth trapping, and heard that a $1.8 million federal transportation grant will federalize an intersection project and shift construction to fall 2027.
Commissioners heard a series of operational updates on June 26: staff reported selecting Planet Geo to update the city’s tree inventory, described increased spongy-moth trapping by the Idaho Department of Lands, and summarized recent council action to accept federal transportation funds for a downtown intersection and bridge improvement.
"We have approximately 7,000 trees in our inventory right now," Eric Bush said as he described the inventory update; Planet Geo—who maintains the city's inventory software—was chosen from four proposals and is expected to begin field work in August with backend updates completed by late fall. Staff said the inventory update will cost roughly $50,000 based on current tree counts and will be paid from an IRA grant.
Bush also said Idaho Department of Lands will deploy additional spongy-moth traps next month to determine whether the initial specimens found last year represent an established infestation.
On transportation, staff reported that council has taken steps to accept $1.8 million in federal transportation funding for a bridge and intersection project; because the funding is federalized, the project must undergo federal environmental and historic reviews, which push expected construction to fall 2027 but increase project scope and funding certainty.
No formal votes were taken on these announcements at the June 26 meeting; staff said contract negotiations with Planet Geo are underway.
