County still has openings in road dust program

By Shelley RidenourThe Daily Inter Lake

Flathead County residents still have an opportunity to participate in a cost-share program related to dust control on county-maintained gravel roads.

Flathead County Public Works Director Dave Prunty and Flathead County Road and Bridge Supervisor Ovila Byrd said the deadline to apply for the dust control program now is 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 21.

People can split the cost with the county to have magnesium chloride applied to roads at their properties, Prunty said.

Residents must sign up for a minimum stretch of a half-mile of roadway.

People have a few options in how they apply, Prunty said. They may call the Road Department at 758-5790, drop by the office or visit the county’s website under the road department tab where an application is available under the forms section.

This year marks the third year the county has offered the dust control program, Prunty said.

“The county commission wanted to reduce our dust issues,” Prunty said.

Last year, dust control measures were used on 29 miles of county roads in the cost-share program. So far this year, 34 miles of roads are to be included in the plan. The county has budgeted $100,000 for the project. Requests don’t total that amount yet, Prunty said, so additional miles can be added if property owners are interested.

The total cost of the work is pegged at $200,000, with the county paying half and landowners contributing the other half.

“Each year we’ve grown, but we haven’t reached our maximum dollar amount,” Prunty said.

The county will put together a bid package for the work, award a contract and oversee the project.

Property owners receive a bill from the county for their share, which must be paid in advance of the work. Prunty expects the payments to be due about the middle of May.

Property owners who live on gravel roads that are not maintained by the county can pay for dust control that the county will oversee, Prunty said, but the owners bear 100 percent of the cost for that work.

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or by e-mail at sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.