Small Town News

State finds county in violation for flood damage repairs

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During their monthly meeting on Monday, the Adams County Commissioners signed off on a violation notice levied by the State of Idaho on the emergency repairs done at Wildhorse Bridge following the June floods. The state suggested that the persons stranded by the flooding could have been lifted out by helicopter instead of by the emergency bridge repairs that the county did, which violated Army Corps of Engineer standards and the work may have damaged bull trout habitat. In lieu of a fine, the Commissioners agreed to plant four trees and some bushes to add willow plants to mitigate the streamside damage done by their repairs.

After the long process of designing Impact Areas for Council and New Meadows, the Commissioners signed into being both plans. Both plans will become effective when they are published for public notice early in November. Public Notice will include the ordinance and a map of each impact area.

Allen Enterprises was the only bidder and the winning bidder for two flood repair projects in the county. Allen Enterprises bid of $20,850 for clearing the Bar Creek culvert and their bid of $29,948 for rebuilding the abutments on the Cottonwood Creek bridge were accepted by the Commissioners.

The Sheriff Department requested that matching the funds for the Hells Canyon boat be transferred to the Justice Fund. The Department also accepted $73,340 in grant money to complete the wireless GPS locator for the Enhanced 911 System the county has installed. The Sheriff also reported that two drug dog handlers have completed their training period and are now eligible for a new rating and salary schedule.

Dave Klaw from the Weed Department plans to add five site signs throughout the county announcing the Adams County Weed Management Association. The new signs will remind residents of the work the Association does in controlling noxious weeds in Adams County.

Commissioner Bill Brown will be in Pocatello, Idaho, next week on November 4 and 5, to convene the Government Employee Medical Plan (GEM) annual meeting. Changes brought about by the new nationally mandated insurance plan make this a crucial meeting to avoid triggering losing the grandfather rights for the GEM plan. Adams County health insurance plan may also trigger the

"Cadillac plan" provision in 2012 which will then make employee premiums subject to income taxes.

An ominous black buzzard hovered over Commissioner Holmes chair during the meeting, when it was announced that he was celebrating his 50th birthday that day. Commissioner Holmes, the youngest member of the commission, survived the celebration.



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