Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The projection for the new year at Whitman County Parks includes reinforcing trails, replacing fence posts, painting and other work.
“What I am seeing is a lot of large maintenance projects this year,” said Dave Mahan, County Parks superintendent.
Trail items include rebuilding sections of the Kamiak Butte backside trail; parts that have sloughed off.
Using re-bar and lumber, Mahan and parks board members will assess the use of wood cribbing on steep hillsides and, if needed, make a plan to bring in a larger group of volunteers to help with the work.
Weather permitting will be the key.
“We really need to get it done this spring,” Mahan said.
Also at Kamiak, rotting fenceposts on the split-rail cedar fences will be replaced, which protects drop-off areas and cuts down on trail cutting.
Painting projects this year include repainting the ranger residence at Kamiak Butte, the well house at Wawawai Park and the restrooms, inside and out, at both parks.
The work will be done by Mahan and Laura Bloomfield, ranger at Kamiak, along with various volunteers. In addition, three seasonal workers will join the staff for the summer. The change is part of the re-organization of the parks department staff.
What does Mahan have in mind for the additional worker?
“I’ve been going through all kinds of scenarios on that,” he said. “It kind of depends on who we get. Everyone has different skill levels and experience.”
The seasonal jobs will be advertised in February with interviews in March. Workers will start in April or May.
Other labor will come from volunteer groups such as the Boy Scouts, fraternities and sororities from WSU and University of Idaho and church groups. Their tasks will include pruning, raking leaves, spreading gravel at campsites and general spring clean-up.
“These different groups that come out, we rely on them,” Mahan said.
County Parks employees will resume weed spraying on the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail along with adding the job of spraying the five tower sites for the Whitman County Emergency Communications Department.
In the cold months, Mahan and Bloomfield work on equipment maintenance and other tasks.
Mahan is also putting together the annual management plan for Wawawai Park, a requirement under terms of the the lease with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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