Briefs Jan. 4, 2011
Idaho 3 road repairs nearly done
ROSE LAKE - Repairs to a culvert that collapsed Tuesday are coming to a close, and Idaho 3 near Rose Lake is expected to re-open by this evening.
The collapsed culvert, which runs beneath Idaho 3 at mile post 113.8, caused half of the roadway to wash out. Contractors worked 24-hour shifts to complete the repair work in time, installing a new culvert and repairing the roadway.
According to Barbara Babic, spokeswoman for the Idaho Transportation Department, Peck and Peck Excavating Inc. was contracted for the installation and repair work. As of Monday the total cost of the emergency repairs has was not yet calculated, as their main concern has been to complete repairs as soon as possible to resume traffic in the area.
Christmas tree pickup in Post Falls
POST FALLS - Post Falls Sanitation will provide a free Christmas tree pickup service for Post Falls residents.
Trees must have all decorations removed and be cut into bundled 4-foot lengths and placed at curbside before 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15.
Residents can also take their Christmas trees to the Kootenai County Solid Waste transfer stations. Trees taken to the transfer stations do not have to be cut into lengths and bundled, but must have all decorations removed.
The Coeur d'Alene station is at 3650 N. Ramsey Road. The Post Falls station is at 15580 W. Prairie Ave.
Road Safe Class
set for Jan. 15
The Idaho State Police will be holding another Road Safe Class on Saturday, Jan. 15. The noon class will be held at the Idaho State Police Region Office at 615 W. Wilbur Ave. in Coeur d'Alene, meeting Room A & B.
The class consists of a power point presentation and video on safe driving tips as well as to prepare for the winter driving season. Other topics discussed will be how to deal with aggressive drivers on the roadways, DUIs, and other driving problems and situations.
The free class will last about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
Call Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (208) 209-8620 to reserve a seat.
Snyder to speak
at KEA meeting
COEUR d'ALENE -
Nick Snyder, director of Kootenai County Parks & Waterways, will speak about the Spokane River/Cougar Bay piling removal project at the Kootenai Environmental Alliance meeting at noon Thursday at the Iron Horse Restaurant.
The Idaho Department of Lands granted Kootenai County the authority to remove the log pilings and booms from the Spokane River and Lake Coeur d'Alene this summer.
An encroachment permit was also approved authorizing Kootenai County to install 15 buoys to designate Cougar Bay as a "no-wake" zone and three mooring buoys within that zone.
The public is welcome.
Rates increase for water customers
The monthly minimum rate for the about 150 customers of Troy Hoffman Water Corporation increased from $5.50 to $11.50 per month effective Jan. 1 as the result of an order approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission last week.
Rates have not increased for 14 years for the company, which serves customers in Coeur d'Alene. When the company filed its case last June, it asked for an increase in the monthly charge from $5.50 to $13.31, plus another $1.45 for every 1,000 gallons used in excess of 3,000 gallons.
The commission ultimately approved the $11.50 monthly minimum but applied it to the first 5,000 gallons.
Customers will pay $1.10 for every 1,000 gallons used in excess of 5,000 gallons per month.
The commission received 25 written comments from customers and four testified at a telephonic hearing conducted by the commission. Customers opposed the size of the increase, especially given the poor economic conditions.