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Big Horn County updates bridge, railroad crossing and grant plans; approves permits and fee waivers
Summary
County road staff reported progress on Road 38 and the Rairden Lane bridge, sought expedited signature authority for a railroad crossing agreement (estimated $20,000), and flagged federal grant matches; commissioners approved right-of-way permits and waived repair fees for two roads.
County engineering and Road and Bridge staff updated the commission on a suite of projects and federal grant opportunities on Jan. 20.
Foremen Mann and Hovey reported completed shoulder work on Road 38 using WYDOT material and said the county's Kubota tractor is out for warranty repairs because it is burning oil. Hovey presented right-of-way permits for Lane 42, Road 31 and Basin Gardens Road and recommended approval. Commissioner Dave Neves moved to approve the permits as presented and to waive fees for water-leak repairs on Road 31 and Basin Gardens Road; the motion was seconded and carried.
Bridges (Road and Bridge staff) said WYDOT offered possible options to avoid easement issues for the Rairden Lane bridge replacement and that a plan should arrive in the next few weeks. He reported that the long-discussed railroad crossing project — estimated at roughly $20,000 — is progressing; Bridges asked the commission to authorize Chair Deb Craft to sign a forthcoming agreement upon its arrival. Bruce Jolley moved that the agreement be signed by Craft upon arrival; the motion was seconded and carried.
On federal funding, Bridges said the Orchard Bench RAISE grant is moving forward and that the county received $177,400 from the Safe Streets for All program for targeted safety work. He also said the FLAP grant for Forest Service Road 17 may be able to use granite pass gravel from a Sheridan project, potentially lowering costs. Bridges described discussions with a crushing contractor about sorting chips vs. crushed base to improve material quality and proposed limiting work to original contract cost but shifting the chip/base mix.
Bridges also reported signage damage on Road 11 (about $450) and the commission agreed by consensus to bill the person who damaged the signs. He noted new Federal Highway Administration requirements for bridge scour/high-water plans and proposed naming Foreman Hovey as the county employee responsible for pre- and post-event inspections for the county's primary concern, Medicine Lodge Bridge.
Why it matters: Several of these projects involve county matching funds or coordination with state and federal agencies; authorizations taken at the meeting allow staff to proceed with agreements and grant matches that will affect county road budgets and timelines.
