Morton County Highway Superintendent Chuck Morman gave a hefty wish list to county commissioners Monday during budget requests.

On the front burner, commissioners are faced with filling four positions for the county highway department. Morman will retire after 45 years with the road department. Two candidates will be interviewed in the coming weeks.

A retiring foreman must be replaced in Flasher and two operation positions remain open in Mandan.

Morman seeks three new road graders be placed on the 2010 budget at a cost of $700,000. It would be paid for $150,000 per year.

Another priority for Morman is completing a 50 feet by 150 feet salt storage facility in Mandan for $100,000.

"There is the possibility of the city of Mandan coming in with us," he said. "Then, we would make it a little bigger with a separate compartment for them."

Morman cautioned commissioners neighbors near the open salt storage area of the county road department are claiming damage to their plants. Enclosing the salt is required by the Environmental Protection Agency.

He asked that the aging Glen Ullin storage facility be replaced for $250,000. The new building would measure 75 feet by 155 feet. The structure holds the road repair fleet for the west side of the county.

"The roof is in really bad shape and the whole building is getting in bad shape," Morman said. "It's rusted out in a lot of places."

He also is requesting another salt building for the Glen Ullin operations at a cost $100,000.

Morman said he is asking for up to $50,000 more in fuel costs in 2010 because its need is hard to predict, up from $350,000 to $400,000.

He is requesting $10,000 more for sand/salt next year.

Morman repeated he is frustrated in the process of collecting reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management for flooded bridges. "We have stuck $317,000 into bridges. We have got nothing back," he said.

The destroyed Timmer and Hendrickson bridges are only slated for a total $880,000 in reimbursement, but Morman said estimates are much higher.

Morman said he was faring better in his progress with FEMA on flooded roads. Of 500 estimated damaged sites, he has signed off on 186. Morman said FEMA has agreed to pay $132,000 for these repairs. "We're still waiting for checks."