Commissioners open rock & asphalt bids; okay capital projects list

Wahkiakum County commissioners breezed through their meeting this week, with highlights including consideration of the Capital Improvements Projects List and opening bids for rock and asphalt products for road maintenance projects.

The Capital Projects List is intended to include projects on county properties that have been identified for funding through the Capital Improvement Fund, which was budgeted at $611,000 for the county's 2020 budget.

Estimated costs for projects on the list total $832,500, with more projects listed without estimates. Each project would have to be reviewed and approved by the board of commissioners.

Some of the proposed work includes:

--Grays River Valley Center/Johnson Park: Restroom upgrades, accessible ramp and doors; upgrades for fire alarms, parking area, flooring and heating system, $295,000 estimated;

--Family Health Center clinic building: New siding, painting and roof, $65,000 estimated;

--Courthouse: Window sealing, interior and exterior painting, sheriff's office entry awning, safety upgrades, health department remodel, $217,000 estimated; and

--Road shop projects: Emergency generators, modular office, fuel pump replacement, perimeter fencing, and shop heating system at Rosburg, $180,000 estimated.

Commissioners approved the list without waiting to add more projects and asked that a resolution be presented to formalize it at a subsequent meeting.

"I think we should take care of the list we have right now," said Commissioner Dan Cothren.

"Yes," said Chair Gene Strong. "This holds as a priority list. I'm good with it."

"The numbers are just estimates," commented Public Works Director Chuck Beyer.

Clerk of the Board Beth Johnson opened bids for rock and asphalt products.

"There are quite a few bids," she commented as she started.

Commissioners referred the bids to Beyer for evaluation; the board normally accepts all bids so that the road crew can obtain desired products ranging from types of asphalt to sizes of rock from the source with the lowest price nearest a particular road project.

Bidders included:

--Lakeside Industries, Longview, various asphalt products;

--Burns Construction, Cathlamet, various rock products;

--J.L. Stordahl and Sons, Kelso, various rock products;

--Naselle Rock and Asphalt, Naselle, various rock and asphalt products, and

--Lodestone Quarry, Inc., Bay Center, various rock products.