County added to disaster declaration
<p>A section of Cocolalla Loop Road was washed out recently after a spate of nonstop rain. Unfortunately for the sake of rural area roads and driveways, more rain and snow are in the forecast. (Photo by CAROLINE SUPPIGER)</p>
SANDPOINT — Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter added Bonner County to the state’s disaster declaration in the wake of damaging rains and landslides, the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security said on Tuesday.
“When we see record rainfall and supersaturated soils, landslides and destroyed roads become inevitable,” said BHS Director Brig. Gen. Bill Shawver said in a statement. “Now our task is to work with available resources to support the areas affected by the disaster.
The emergency declaration can be used to acquire disaster relief funding.
Leslie Marshall, Bonner County’s interim Road & Bridge director, updated county commissioners on Tuesday.
Marshall said crews are clearing and/or replacing culverts in all three road districts, in addition to removing downed trees and some grading of gravel roads.
The board also temporarily lifted weight limits on Colburn Culver Road and Pinecone Road so Union Pacific Railroad and Woods Crushing & Hauling can make repairs following Saturday’s train derailment. Commissioners adopted agreements to cover road damages caused by hauling on the two roads.
Under the agreements, Union Pacific would take full responsibility for any damage done to the two routes and any overtime county workers might incur while monitoring hauling impacts to the road.
Marshall said those roads are restricted to local traffic only to limit interference with hauling operations.
Commissioner Lewie Rich said traffic is already “slowing up the process considerably.”
Bob Howard, the county’s Emergency Management director, said the damages to public infrastructure, which is tracking toward $1 million, so has not reached a statewide threshold to qualify for federal disaster relief.
Howard said the impacts in Bonner County mostly have to do with the financial cost of repairing roads rather than access issues.
Meanwhile, rain and stormwater runoff are pushing the level of Lake Cocolalla to record levels.
“Those folks on the north end have waterfront closer than they want, but all we can do is offer sandbags and sand to assist them,” Howard said.