Fertilizer spill leads to question of repair payment

COLFAX — A citizen repaired property damage and Whitman County commissioners must decide if they are going to pay him.

A fertilizer truck tipped over and spilled along Almota Road last October, according to the county.

An adjacent landowner took it upon himself to facilitate repairs to the drainage.

County commissioners are now discussing whether they should reimburse him for materials, pay him for work, or decline as repairs are the responsibility of public works.

Whitman County Public Works Director Mark Storey explained to commissioners Monday that the county offered to pay for the materials.

“I think it sets a bad precedent to start paying people for work not approved by (us)” said Storey. “We have some culpability. There was a drainage issue that affected his property.”

“It’s charging us for work we would’ve done ourselves,” said county commissioner Art Swannack. “I don’t disagree with how you handled it at this point in time.”

Commissioner Michael Largent previously talked to the landowner about the issue, as they are in his district.

“He and a neighbor got it done but whether you can (bill the county) is another matter,” Largent said.