Courthouse project, habitat plan get okay, county to rename roads

Whitman County commissioners on Monday approved a $10,273 bid from Specialty Coatings of Colfax for a remodeling project for the Superior Court’s executive secretary office.

A 12-foot archway will be cut out from the existing office, new dividing walls will be built and new carpet installed.

Commissioners also approved a Palouse Wind habitat agreement. County planner Alan Thomson told commissioners First Wind has voluntarily agreed to do its part in restoring the habitat to meet concerns about the Palouse Prairie plants which were destroyed or disturbed by the wind turbine development.

First Wind will put $56,100 in a fund to replace prairie grass, trees, grassy areas and other habitats. The county, Palouse Wind and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife will decide how the money is spent.

County officials will replace two road names because county road signs are being constantly stolen.

The two roads, Stoner Road, in the far northwest corner of the county near Lamont, and Boozer Road, between Malden and Rosalia, will be renamed not only saving the county money, but preventing people from taking the signs.

Whitman County Public Works Director Mark Storey said the county spends between $50 and $100 to replace each sign that has been removed or defaced.

Storey said county crews could hardly keep the Stoner Road sign on a post before it was gone. He said the Boozer sign hasn’t been as bad at disappearing or being shot at.

The Palouse Empire Fair office is moving to the fairgrounds a bit earlier than usual. The office will open at the fairgrounds in June and then move back into the county office after the fair in September.

“We need a presence out there,” county facilities and fair manager Bob Reynolds said. He added with increased interest in activities at the fairgrounds, a person should be there to accommodate that interest.