Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The new Whitman County transfer station is temporarily shut down in order to repair bolts holding down its crane.
Two of the bolts broke off where the nuts connects, leading to the decision two weeks ago to switch operations back to the old facility.
The crane is used to redistribute and pack waste into shipment containers.
“We could've kept running and just not use the crane, but we elected not to,” said Mark Storey, Whitman County Public Works Director. An option was to keep using the new building, with a track hoe brought there in place of the crane.
The matter was discovered earlier this month when two errant bolt heads were found on two separate days. Nothing had moved on the crane.
“We don't know why they broke,” Storey said.
The repair― to be covered by warranty of the Crane equipment Manufacturing Corporation of Eugene, Ore., will get underway after the 1-1/4-inch steel bolts are sent to be tested.
The bolts were supplied by the Oregon manufacturer, which makes cranes with the name Grizzly.
“We're going to locate the re-bar first, then call Pro-Cut,” said David Nails, Whitman County's Solid Waste and Recycling Director.
Pro-Cut Concrete Cutting is located in Spokane.
Nails indicated that the contractor will “core” through the concrete with a special drill-bit.
Halme Construction of Spokane the county's contractor on the transfer station, installed the crane.
During the station's temporary closing, the building is still being used for its scales, software, drop-off boxes for steel, grass and storage.
The facility is expected to be back to full use in three to four weeks.
At the old building, Storey said operations are back to what they were, for the most part.
“We're having to baby it along,” he said of the old conveyor belt.
“Again, it's cramped and tight, but it's workable,” said Nails of the situation.
The new facility was dedicated April 16.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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