Commissioners discuss road projects, bridge work and approve equipment purchase

Treasure County commissioners spent substantial time on Aug. 1 discussing road maintenance, equipment needs and progress on a county bridge project that the state has agreed to fund.

Commissioners reported that the state accepted responsibility for replacing a bridge (referred to during the meeting as a River Road project) and that engineering work has begun. One commissioner said the work appears to be progressing faster than expected and noted the state’s involvement should reduce county costs. The meeting referenced funding for the state project as "Senate Bill 536." (As discussed on the record, the county did not claim to authoritatively interpret the bill text; commissioners cited the bill as the stated funding source.)

On routine maintenance, road staff described worn cutting edges and replacement options. Staff provided a quote of $4,783.40 for a set of pointy cutting edges for a Volvo; commissioners discussed durability, replacement frequency and budget availability. The Chair and other commissioners said the purchase fits the new‑year equipment budget and moved to approve the order. The motion carried by voice vote.

Commissioners also discussed operational issues — including the need for more guardrails, pothole patching, culvert cleaning and scheduling around harvest seasons that increase truck traffic. They directed staff to proceed with prioritized repairs and to provide updates on contractor schedules and any state DOT coordination needed.

The commissioners instructed the road department to place the approved equipment order and to follow up with a timeline for installation.

Quotes used in this article come from the meeting transcript and are attributed to functional labels appearing in the record.