Port board gets reports on Boyer, Wilma projects

The Port of Whitman County had a full agenda for their regular meeting Nov. 23, and many construction projects were on the list.

Port staffer Kara Riebold reported to the commissioners about three projects, including the Boyer Park & Marina expansion and the Wilma Rail Project.

Riebold told the commissioners that a pre-construction meeting was Nov. 19 regarding the Boyer expansion, and the project would begin Dec. 2.

“The notice to proceed was issued,” said Riebold. “We are ready to roll.”

The Boyer expansion project bid was awarded to Palouse River Rock for $623,299 earlier in November. The plan includes adding four new cabins and 13 new RV spots as well as asphalt repair in the existing campground, paving of the RV overflow area, irrigation in the west and south areas and safety trenching measures.

Riebold also gave an update on the Port of Wilma project across the river from Clarkston. This project, which was awarded to Railworks for just less than $1.2 million, is intended to rehabilitate the railroad in the area to serve two new businesses.

Riebold said that the Wilma project started Nov. 23, and the crews there spent six days cleaning up the tracks to get started on the rest of the construction.

“They are doing track clean up because there is a lot of debris on the track,” said Riebold.

The work at Wilma will include replacing railroad ties, adding new rail, creating concrete pads for crossings and pouring asphalt around the crossings. Currently, many of the crossings are wood plank or dirt – some of which have been constructed by the business owners – and are in need of upgrades. Riebold said the concrete pads are easy to move.

“These concrete pads can be lifted out to do repairs underneath or maintenance underneath,” she said.

The project began last week and is expected to conclude Feb. 1, but that could be extended depending on weather, Riebold said, because of the availability of asphalt which will be used to resurface roads up to the railroad crossings.

Also at the meeting, the commissioners approved the 2016 Port budget. The $5,153,500.00 budget was approved unanimously after a resolution to adopt a one percent property tax levy, equaling $12,143, was approved.