Heavy rain puts strain on county infrastructure

Big Horn County Road & Bridge supervisors Eric Mann and Shannan Hovey gave their department updates at the May 20 meeting of the Big Horn County commission.

Mann said four pipes had to be replaced on the north end. An 8-inch by 54-foot pipe cratered on Lane 6. A 24-inch by-120-foot pipe was replaced by the landfill. On Road 1, a 24-inch by 40-foot pipe gave out. He has one more to do on Lane 9. All the pipes were old, according to Mann.

County Engineer Willie Bridges explained that when it rains like it has, the soil is saturated. It then loses its ability to provide structure strength. All the weight of the soil goes directly onto the pipe. The old pipes were likely rusted out and collapsed with the weight. Mann said there typically aren’t a bunch of collapses in one week, but the crew got the three done. They are working on finishing them up.

He presented two right-of-way permits. Both were approved by the commission. 

Hovey discussed a slough on Lane 33½ that has been an issue for a few years. The crew took materials the county already had to reinforce it. A cattle guard was installed on Lane 43. They have also been building up pit run on Lane 38.

A ditch on Lane 29 was plugged and overflowed onto the road. 

ENGINEERING

Bridges gave a department report. Chip sealing projects should start by early July. Bridges shared a planning grant opportunity that would be used for the county road system. The county has never had one done before. It would help the county prioritize the work around the county and identify some areas that need more attention. More information about the grant was shared by Steve Welling from Pryor Mountain Engineering.

Welling explained the grant is called “Safe Streets and Roads for All” (SS4A). Grants go up to $750,000.

“The reason we think it is great is because it is really based on need,” Welling said. “So, statistically, our county is less safe than other counties. The need is there, and that is what they are looking for.”

He said if the county could show there is a need to improve the safety of county roads, the county would automatically be placed at the top of the list. Once a planning study is done, the entity becomes eligible for another grant to implement the findings. That grant runs from $2.5 million to $25 million. The grant application is due June 26, 2025. 

Welling estimated it will take a week to gather information, get letters of support and complete the grant. There is currently no money in the county budget for this. Bridges said that the return on the money is significant.

The commission made a motion to approve moving forward with the grant application. 

PUBLIC HEALTH 

 The commissioners received a Public Health Department update, given by Public Health Nurse Manager Hillary Mulley.

Mulley said the nurse in the Lovell office gave a letter of resignation. There will only be a nurse in the Lovell office by appointment one day a week. The nurse will also go to Lovell to complete things like LT assessments by the due date.

An executive session was called to discuss personnel.

FACILITIES 

County Maintenance Supervisor Jeremy Pouska told the commission that the handicapped paved area by the fair hall is done except for lines and signs. 

The slab for the pig barn is scheduled. The new water line will be put in between the poultry and pig barn. The wash racks will be upgraded.

The Quonset Hut in the south end road and bridge yard will be torn down soon. A new storage building for search and rescue will be constructed. The tentative completion date is September 1.

Pouska presented a project proposal for the multipurpose building fire system at the fairgrounds, noting, “We constantly have issues with the landlines that are provided. I don’t think it is the supplier’s issue, more so, the equipment that is in the building. They’ve switched their system to use a wireless cellular monitoring system. Our older equipment is giving their main operating system a fit.” 

He asked for a star link cell bridge communicator central station connection. By consensus, the commission gave the green light to move forward.

OTHER BUSINESS

• Karen Spragg of the Lovell-Kane Museum discussed grant support/sponsorship. 

• An update on the County Prevention Program was given by Travis Sylvester. 

• Paul Thur and Stephanie May gave department updates for Airports and Land Planning.