In brief: Transfer station delayed

Construction of Kootenai County’s second garbage transfer station west of Post Falls is once again delayed because the County Commission rejected three construction bids because of alleged mistakes.

Commission Chairman Rick Currie tossed his pen across the table and buried his head in his hands after the county attorney advised the commission Tuesday the bids were not acceptable.

Two bidders, Contractors Northwest and Graham Construction, used the same plumbing contractor whose Idaho license didn’t allow such an expensive project.

The third bidder, Williams Brothers Construction, didn’t respond to the county’s request for more information on the plumbing contractor.

Currie said he was frustrated because winter is coming and the hitch could delay construction of the $14 million garbage drop-off site by more than a month.

Initially the transfer station – planned for a field off Pleasant View Road and Prairie Avenue – was scheduled to open this fall. But another problem with the bidding process delayed the opening until fall 2008.

Currie said every delay costs money because construction costs increase.

The county intends to readvertise the bid proposal and award it by Oct. 2.

– Erica Curless

County hires impact-fee firm

The Kootenai County Commission voted Tuesday to hire BBC Research and Consulting of Denver to conduct an impact fee study, the first step in charging developers to help pay for area growth.

The county legal staff and county Planner Cheri Howell will negotiate a contract and price with the company, which has done planning work for Coeur d’Alene.

The consultants will study how much development is affecting county infrastructure such as roads, parks and fire protection. The study will sort out how much revenue the fee system should generate and how the county could spend the money.

Other local taxing districts, such as fire and highway districts, may participate in the study and help pay the cost, about $10,000.

– Erica Curless