'We're serious about our dust problem'

Flathead County stopped 572 dust-raising drivers and put up 94 warning signs in 2008.

County officials briefed the county commissioners Monday on last year's efforts and this year's plans to deal with vehicles churning up dust on the Flathead's gravel roads.

"We've demonstrated to the [Montana Department of Environmental Quality] and to the state that we're serious about our dust problem," Commissioner Chairman Dale Lauman said. "We can't solve all the dust problems. We never will. But we can mitigate some of the problem."

In 2007, the state investigated dust complaints on Conn, Trumbull Creek and Jellison roads. In January 2008, it gave Flathead County the choice of paying a $28,000 fine or tackling a three-year dust mitigation plan.

The county chose the dust mitigation plan.

That plan includes briefing the Department of Environmental Quality in January 2009, 2010 and 2011 on the county's efforts to reach its required goals.

One requirement was for the Flathead County Sheriff's Office to hire a half-time "dust deputy" to patrol the county's 700 miles of gravel and unpaved roads. The county has 400 miles of paved roads.

That deputy issued 322 tickets and 250 warnings - usually for speeding -to drivers of dust-raising vehicles in 2008.

The total cost for the deputy was $76,970, of which $26,450 went to his salary. The rest went to his vehicle and some equipment.

Meanwhile, the county public works department put up 85 dust-related speed signs and nine "No Thru Truck" signs on gravel roads at a total cost of $7,150. The county was obligated to install only 30 signs in 2008.

David Prunty, county public works director, expects the department to put up a similar number of signs in 2009 - giving priority to gravel roads with the highest traffic volumes.

"I think it made a big difference in getting people to slow down," Sheriff Mike Meehan said.

The county put liquid dust suppressants -magnesium chloride and emulsified asphalt, otherwise known as "black oil" - on 4.75 miles of Mennonite, Kinshella and Jensen roads. That cost the county $15,600.

Prunty hopes to tackle $100,000 worth of dust-control work in 2009.

The county government is thinking about a creating a cost-sharing plan, with the county paying for part of the dust-control work and property owners along specific parts of treated roads paying the rest.

Reporter John Stang may be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at jstang@dailyinterlake.com