New speed signs on county roads shot within a week

The commissioners learned at their September 15 meeting, that some of the new speed signs the county put up have already been shot. 

At a previous meeting, the commissioners voted to put up speed signs on roads and lanes throughout the county. 

South Big Horn County Road and Bridge Supervisor Shannan Hovey reported within a week, the signs on the west end of Lane 38 have bullet holes. 

 Northend Road and Bridge Supervisor Eric Mann told the commission he had to deal with some washouts.  The crew spend a week plus getting those fixed. His crew did get speed limit signs on Road 18 and Lane 7. 

He mentioned that the water will soon be out of the canals. The county has three big culverts to put in for the Sidon Canal. He would like clarification on who is paying for the concrete for the project. 

County Engineer Willie Bridges said he attended a Sidon Canal Board meeting the night before. He discussed the project with them. He explained, “Sidon is committed to doing the concrete foundation again. They have some forms they bought. They would appreciate labor to help move the forms around.”

ENGINEERING 

Bridges gave updates on the Shell and Rairden Bridge projects. They are scheduled to be in the WYDOT letting in November. 

Regarding Forest Service Road 17, Bridges explained he had a meeting that afternoon with the Federal Highway Administration. “They are starting the design work on it. A survey crew will be up there this week. There is a chance that the construction might get moved up a year.” That would put the project in fiscal year 2029 instead of 2030. Bridges informed both landowners that surveyors will be on site. 

Bridges also discussed the Orchard Bench project. He would like to schedule a public meeting in October. 

The patching on Beaver Creek Road is complete. Hovey said he was there when the patching was being done. There was a problem around one corner because of water getting under the fresh mill. He knows of three times they had to redo it. Bridges stated the contractor did a good job, and he hopes to put a chipseal on the road next year. 

Lastly, Bridges reported he inspected the Good property on Red Gulch.  He will put together a letter with his findings. 

WEED AND PEST 

Cliff Winters, supervisor for BHC Weed and Pest, discussed the cost of his office spraying the Russian olives in the county’s rights-of-ways.  During the commissioner’s September 1 meeting, Mann talked about how bad the trees are getting. He noted that Weed and Pest used to spray the trees, but when their budget got cut, the spraying ended. 

At this meeting, Winters told the commission that the cost of the herbicide would be $30,000. He noted that Weed and Pest would donate the labor. The county has just over 300 miles of roads. Both sides would be sprayed, making the total 600-plus miles. 

After a short discussion about the prudence of spraying sooner vs. later, the commission voted to spend $15,000 for herbicide this year for Weed and Pest to spray. They will budget in another $15,000 for the following year. Hovey and Mann expressed that this would reduce the county’s Road and Bridge hours for cutting down live trees. This is a good thing. 

OTHER 

Fair Board members Rebecca Bates and Tracy Haley discussed the 2026 fair. An executive session was held during this portion of the meeting to discuss contracts/personnel. 

Land planner Stephanie May gave a department report. 

Airport Manager Paul Thur provided a department report.