Public Works looks at 2024 projects

COLFAX — The Public Works department for Whitman County has yet to see a very heavy winter but has been keeping busy getting ready for 2024 by maintaining roads and planning for future projects.

Public Works Director Mark Storey said since the winter has not hit very hard, they have focused on sanding and de-icing roads.

Storey said the department has four roads they put de-icer on, including Colfax Airport Road, Albion Road, Pullman Albion Road and Pullman Airport Road. “There’s been some morning frost,” Storey said, noting that when the weather is good, people often get a false sense of security, so they try to make sure the roads are drivable.

“Sometimes the better weather is worse because when the weather does come, people don’t expect it,” Storey said.

In other Public Works news, Storey said the year had seen improvements to the Solid Waste, and they are working on winter reporting work for legislative issues.

Storey said they’re starting to work on the Bridge at the Bill Chipman Trail that was burned down by youth in August of last year and making sure they have all the materials on hand.

Storey said they will need a crane for the work, which will probably start around March. “We have to go to bid for crane services on that,” he said, adding that there are logistical things that they need to start to put in place, and they ordered the superstructure last fall.

Public Works has been getting many little projects done, Storey said. ”We’re fixing little spots in the road where we might have damage,” Store said, adding that they are still hauling gravel on several roads, which they usually cannot do a lot this time of year.

Storey said the Public Works department is also having several employees retire this year, so they’re working on getting more applicants so they will not be short-staffed in the coming year.