County Commissioners approve rental rates, grant application

The Adams County Commissioners approved several items at the July 30 meeting, including a resolution adopting the equipment rental rates for 2018.

County Engineer Scott Yaeger explained the proposed rates for 2018 were calculated using the average costs from the previous three years, average hours and added an overhead rate of 22 percent.

For the 2018 rates, Yaeger said he added Skid Steer Attachments as a new category. He explained there were not many mower or roller attachments being used, and he added them into their own category in case the department needs to adjust the rate.

Another change is the rental rate for the Grader V-Plow, which increased to an annual rate of $528. Yaeger explained the increase was due in-part to the department repairing two transmissions.

The rate for Water Tank Trailer increased to $12 an hour. Yaeger said the department has been upgrading the equipment on the water trucks.

In other action items, the Commissioners authorized Public Works Director Todd O’Brien to submit the Historical County Courthouse Rehabilitation Program application.

O’Brien said he spoke with the architect consultant regarding the bidding climate for historical work.

He noted a projected bid to restore windows at the Adams County Courthouse is $1.28 million. The County would need contribute $256,326 for the project.

The application notes the work would be scheduled for completion in 2019.

O’Brien said even if the application is approved, the county does not have to accept it. He explained Public Works has funds in the Capital Improvement Fund for the project, but it would restrict the department’s budget for future projects.

In engineering, Yaeger said the department received approval from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) the construction funding requests for the McManamon, Lind-Hatton and Damon roads overlay projects have been approved.

He is still waiting for approval from the Federal Highway Administration.

The Commissioners approved a request to allocate an additional $4,000 for Public Works to purchase a four-wheel drive, diesel maintenance vehicle to add to the department’s fleet.

Yaeger explained the department budgeted $18,000 for the vehicle, which he based off the 2011 pricing with an additional $3,000.

O’Brien also discussed the interlocal agreement between Adams County and Othello regarding solid waste management planning.

He explained every municipality in the County has signed the agreement, except for the City of Othello.

O’Brien explained Othello is concerned about the terms and duration of the agreement.

Under the current agreement, it would be effective for 10 years and automatically renewed every five years. A city wanting to withdraw from the agreement must notify the county no less than one year before the renewal date.

He explained Othello would like the ability to withdraw from the initial 10-year term with one-year advance notice in case Adams County had to increase solid waste collection rates.

Under the previous interlocal agreement, O’Brien said there was no time frame when a city could withdraw from the program. To leave the program, a city only had to provide a one-year notice with approval the City Council. He added the current agreement can amend the initial 10-year agreement.

If Othello withdrew from Adams County’s solid waste program, O’Brien is not sure how it would affect operations.

He explained the City of Othello accounts for 50 percent of the solid waste transported to the Bruce Transfer Station.

O’Brien added the decreased volume in waste would decrease the workload at the facility. Public Works would not have to expand the transfer station.

He said Othello would also have to draft and implement a solid waste management plan of their own if they left the county’s program.

The commissioners asked O’Brien to contact Othello for suggestions to the language that they would like to see in the interlocal agreement. He and Adams County Prosecutor Randy Flyckt would review Othello’s suggestions for potential legal issues.

Once all of the municipalities have confirmed whether or not to sign the agreement, O’Brien will submit the plan to the Washington State Department of Ecology for review.