SANDPOINT — In preparation for the snowy weather to come, Bonner County Road and Bridge was approved to renew snowplow contracts for two county roads. 

County commissioners approved the renewals during a Nov. 18 business meeting, where Commissioner Brian Domke presented the department’s proposal to outsource plowing on the Hope Peninsula and Glengary Bay Road to two separate entities. 

The first contract renewed is with Weekend Hoe Excavation for the rate of $70 an hour, with an estimated $4,000 annual cost. Weekend Hoe Excavation will continue to plow the Hope Peninsula as it has the past several years. According to Domke, the contract to plow the Hope Peninsula comes from an access and efficiency perspective.  

“There isn't the same lack of safety turnaround issues. I think it just has to do with narrow roads, the size of our equipment, and the efficiency of being able to get into that area and out of that area. So, they found this to be more cost effective when they look at their overall services countywide,” said Domke.  

John Pipkin was additionally approved to plow Glengary Bay Road at $110 an hour, a $15 increase from previous years. The department noted that John Pipkin is able to plow the road despite the narrow turnaround that had created safety issues for department equipment operators. 

Commissioners unanimously approved the contracts, noting that the department had reached out to three other companies, but only one responded and was unavailable due to scheduling conflicts.