County plans $150,000 in dust work
After debating various options to lessen dust problems and appease the Department of Environmental Quality, Flathead County has decided to invest about $150,000 in a supplemental environmental project.
The county was fined $29,000 in January for failing to address complaints of excessive road dust caused by unpaved roads. But instead of paying the fine, Flathead County decided to complete a supplemental environmental project that would help alleviate the dust problem.
DEQ approved Flathead County's project this week.
Larry Alheim of DEQ said the department was pleased with the project because it may reduce dust countywide rather than just on specific roads.
The project is made up of three components, which are expected to be completed in the next three years. The total cost for the project is about $150,000.
"It would've been much cheaper to just pay the fine, but then the money is just going to DEQ," said County Commissioner Joe Brenneman. "I don't see this as a penalty but as an investment."
The project's three components include posting more signs, adding additional law enforcement for dust patrols and completing a dust palliative application.
The county is proposing a mandatory speed limit sign of 35 mph to be placed on top of a recommended speed limit sign of 20 mph on all unpaved roads.
Other signs may include "no through truck traffic" and "local access only." The proposal states that an expected 30 speed-limit signs and five regulatory signs will be posted per year in the next three years. The cost to post a recommended and a mandatory sign is estimated at $150. The total cost for signs is expected to be $5,075.
Commissioners and the Flathead County Sheriff's Office have agreed to hire a part-time deputy sheriff responsible for patrolling for violations of the new postings and to slow vehicle speeds on unpaved roads. That cost is estimated at $42,638 the first year, $38,788 the second year and $39,328 the third year.
The county has also agreed to pay $10,000 per year for the next three years for dust mitigating treatments on unpaved county roads. County Public Works Director Dave Prunty and the Flathead County Road Advisory Committee will help develop an "objective county road analysis tool to maximize fiscal appropriateness of application of dust palliatives."
The specific application material to be used has yet to be determined. The county hopes to test different materials next spring.
Reporter Amy May may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at amay@dailyinterlake.com