County sets aside $100,000 for dusty roads

By HEIDI DESCH / Hungry Horse News

Flathead County is considering a plan that could help mitigate dust on the county's some 700 miles of unpaved roads " including the North Fork Road.

In a recent meeting with representatives of several government agencies and North Fork residents, Commissioner Gary Hall presented a draft agreement for a dust control cost share program.

Hall also asked for input about what could specifically be done for the North Fork Road.

"I didn't come with any concrete ideas on mitigation for the North Fork Road," he said. "I hope we can come away with ways to deal with the health and safety of the road."

Dust control on the North Fork Road has long been a topic of debate. Some residents want the road paved, while others would prefer it remain unpaved.

Under the draft proposal, the county would share 50 percent of the cost of applying a dust control agent. The remaining cost would come from county residents in the area where the agent is applied.

The County has set aside $100,000 for the program in the entire county.

As part of the program, neighboring landowners would come together and pay half the cost to have magnesium chloride applied to the road. The County would then prepare the road for application and pay the remaining half for a private company to apply the chemical.

County Public Works Director Dave Prunty estimated the cost of applying magnesium chloride to one mile of road to be about $3,500.

Black oil " another control agent " is also an option, but costs twice the price. Also under the proposal, the County would only foot the bill for half of what magnesium chloride would cost.

The idea is that sections of roads would receive the treatment, not necessarily entire stretches of road. At minimum a half mile of a road (or the entire length if it's less) would be approved for mitigation. Roads would also be ranked with higher traffic counts receiving funding first.

"Our program is geared to half-mile to mile sections, not the whole 45 miles (of the North Fork Road)," said Prunty. "It's more about the impact to humans rather than the flora and fauna."

THE COUNTY last year spent just under $210,000 on maintenance for the North Fork Road alone. That includes about $120,800 spent during the summer months on items such as repair work and blading of the road. During the winter months some $44,200 was spent " mostly on plowing.

In 2006 the County spent just under $240,000 for maintenance of the road.

"This is not uncommon for us to spend that much money up there," noted Prunty.

The County spends 8.1 percent of the county road tax on the North Fork Road. North Fork residents make up about .5 percent of the total county population outside of city limits.

"When you look at it from a financial point of view for the 45 to 50 miles up there to maintain " that's a lot of money to maintain on a per capita basis," said Prunty.

IDEAS TO HELP with mitigation were presented by the North Fork Road Coalition for Health and Safety at the meeting. Last year the group funded an air sampling study of the road to determine the amount of dust created by traffic.

The group listed three suggestions for raising funds. Those included a fee on every vehicle that enters Glacier National Park at the Polebridge entrance station, a one-time summer rafting fee for commercial and private rafting on the North Fork of the Flathead and converting the North Fork into a toll road.

The first two options seem unlikely as they would require Glacier Park and the Flathead National Forest to collect fees. Both agencies aren't legally allowed to spend money on roads outside their jurisdiction.

Hall said the third option could be a possibility, but he is uncertain if legally the County can create a toll road.

"I think toll roads are a good idea," said Hall. "My experience has caused me to be a supporter of toll roads."

NEITHER THE Flathead National Forest nor Glacier National Park would likely be able to assist with mitigation.

Residents who share their section of the road with the Flathead National Forest would also likely have to shoulder their 50 percent of the costs.

Hungry Horse-Glacier View District Ranger Jimmy DeHerrera said the forest might be able to help by providing materials such as gravel for a project, but not money.

"We're definitely concerned about dust on the North Fork Road and participating in mitigation, but the challenge is money," he said. "We don't have the authority to spend money on the North Fork Road because it's not in our jurisdiction."

Park Ranger Scott Emmerich said Glacier would also likely be unable to provide assistance.

"We support the safety on that road, but it's outside our jurisdiction," he said.

ALSO AT the meeting, Prunty cautioned North Fork residents that this winter's snow removal might not be up to par with what it has been seen in the past. That is mainly because the road department is down about eight employees this year due to cost increases.

"I don't know if we can provide the kind of snow removal we have in the past," he said. "It will be difficult for us to get that road opened up.