Government Briefs

Lincoln County

Fifth Street

The Lincoln County Commissioners discussed progress on the 5th Street Extension project Wednesday.

The ongoing project involves altering the path of 5th Street in order to improve safety by moving the railroad crossing.

Marc McCully, the county’s road foreman for the libby district, said he is currently working on paperwork regarding exchanges of property with affected residents. In most cases, the road will simply move from the front to the back of affected properties.

Commissioner Mark Peck said that the current railroad crossing is “a nasty son of a gun,” and people have been hit there.

McCully said that the county needed to repave the road, and the cost difference for paving the new road will be negligible in comparison.

The state is paying 80 percent of the cost of replacing the crossing and the railroad is paying 20 percent, McCully said. The county’s portion is covered by the work of county crews.

Sheriff’s vehicles

The Lincoln County Commissioners voted to accept a grant for two new vehicles for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, at their Wednesday meeting.

The grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development provides $31,700.

Wendy Drake, with the county’s accounting department, said that the county’s match for the grant will be $58,900.

County Undersheriff Brian Griffeth said that the grant will cover the purchase and outfitting of two new vehicles.

Along with four vehicles previously purchased used from Cascade County, the two new vehicles will put the department back on track for a regular replacement schedule, Griffeth said.

Troy

New Businesses

The Troy City Council approved business licenses for two businesses at their Wednesday meeting.

The businesses were Polished by Katelyn, a salon and nail business operated by Katelyn Blomdahl, and Andrews Labor and Contracting Inc., operated by Oliver Andrews.

Andrews told the council he has been doing contracting work since around 2002, but wanted to be licensed to do work in the city limits.

Rate increase approved

The Troy City Council voted Wednesday to approve resolution 2019-761, increasing the city’s sewer rate by 5 percent.

City Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Rebo said that the increase would take 30 days to go into effect, and users will see the change on their July bills.

Recognizing responders

During their Wednesday meeting, the Troy City Council discussed the events in and around Troy the previous day, which included an accidental shooting and a manhunt.

Council member Crystal Denton said that, once all the facts are known, there may be call for commendations for “a couple people who had very big roles in yesterday.”