Estimated $240,500 in flood damage, repairs on hold

POMEROY-The Garfield County Commissioners discussed flood damage estimates of $240,500 from the storms and runoff occurring February 6–7, 2020 during the regular meeting Monday, February 24, 2020. Rod Norland, Garfield County Public Works, reported that they are still assessing damages, and reported they had found a 100-foot long mud slide. Repairs are on hold until officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Washington State Military Department visit the area on February 27, 2020. They will assess flood damage to approve state funding, or not, for repairs. Garfield County currently has estimated a total of $240,500 in damages. However, Commissioner Wynne McCabe stated, “we will look small” compared to what they will see when they visit Walla Walla and Columbia counties, “but that $240,000 is money we don’t have.”

Commissioner Justin Dixon reported from the Fair Board meeting on February 18, 2020, stating that the board voted 11 to 3 against allowing the Demolition Derby Event to take place during the 2020 Fair. There was concern about the overall structure of the event, to which the commissioners agreed. It was suggested that they could possibly look into having such an event at a different time rather than in conjunction with the fair. Dixon also reported that there was a discussion of allowing long-term RV space rental at the fairgrounds. Due to security issues, the Fair Board was not favorable to the idea, but it was mentioned that they could look at making 30-day rentals available in non-winter months. The greatest concern about long-term rentals was the fact that the spaces are not individually metered for electricity, and costs associated with heat in the winter months would not be cost effective for the County.

Grant Morgan, Garfield County Engineer and Public Works Director, announced that the contract with Scarsella Brothers for the construction of the Gould City Phase 4 project had been signed, and the pre-construction meeting will take place about March 3, 2020, and work should start about March 16, 2020.

Morgan reported that Justin Morgan had requested that the County vacate a road to his property, all the way down to Rick Slaybaugh’s property, so he can put a gate across the road. Morgan said that it would landlock several other properties along the road, so he did not recommend that the road vacation be approved. The commissioners agreed that the road should not be vacated.

Dixon announced that Mike Wolf has resigned from the Garfield County Building and Planning Division, effective March 2, 2020. His resignation was approved by the commissioners. The County will advertise for a replacement, and then recruit for a replacement if necessary.