Commission approves FLAP grant and considers temporary Red Gulch crossing and chip-seal timing

The Big Horn County Commission on July 15 approved a Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant agreement for work on Forest Service Road 17 and granted a right-of-way permit for Lane 41, while county road staff described options and constraints for a temporary Red Gulch crossing and scheduled pavement work.

Bridges, a county road-and-bridge staff member, said multiple drainages at Red Gulch make a cost-effective bypass impractical; he reported a limited small-vehicle crossing on private property downstream might be possible and asked to speak with the landowner. Commissioners requested staff pursue the limited crossing option but not a county detour.

Bridges also presented a FLAP grant agreement for Forest Service Road 17 and said there were no new grant requirements; Commissioner Bruce Jolley moved to approve the agreement and the motion carried. Bridges said one contractor indicated willingness to delay payment for a gravel-crushing project until the following year, but the county must advertise the job and disclose delayed payment terms; staff warned that proceeding with crushing could force postponement of a chip-seal project for a year.

The Commission approved a right-of-way permit for Lane 41 after Hovey recommended the permit and Commissioner Dave Neves moved for approval. Staff also reported budget gaps for traffic counters and a Pryor Mountain Engineering proposal to buy counters and lease them to the county; the Commission asked staff to hold off while options are explored.

No formal cost estimates for the temporary crossing or final timelines for crushing and chip-seal work were included in the meeting record.