Morton County highway officials got the nod for some of its flood-related repairs in recent weeks, including the replacement of two wooden bridges.

County road superintendent Chuck Morman said Federal Emergency Management Agency officials have completed field inspections at the 500 damaged road and infrastructure sites. They are assembling costs.

Morman is expecting the county to receive $500,000 to repair gravel-washed roads.

Approval has been given to replace the Sweet Briar Lake and Timmer bridges. Both were destroyed during the March ice jams.

Morman said with engineering costs, the county will be reimbursed for 97 percent of the $840,000 to it will cost replace the Hendrickson bridge. Morton County will pay about $24,000.

For the Timmer bridge, the county will receive a 97 percent reimbursement for the $750,000 cost of replacing the bridge. The county's share is expected to be $22,000.

Morman said FEMA regulations require the replacements be made to pre-disaster conditions. That means the county must seek bids for wood bridges, not concrete.

Morman said wood bridges are more expensive. He said bids could be sought for the bridge replacements by December. If FEMA then directs him to to seek an alternate bid for a concrete structure, he will.

Costs also are being tallied for 14 bridge sites and two federal aid highway bridges (one north of Flasher and one near the Heart River).

Another $250,000 in reimbursement is expected for washed-out culverts from FEMA.

Morman said the county's temporary road crews have finished their month of work. While the temporary people completed regular road maintenance, county crews were able to tackle some of the roads damaged by flooding and snow.

"We're about halfway done with those," Morman said. He said some of the work will have to wait until spring.

Morman retiring

Morman has only has a few weeks left on the job. He officially retires Sept. 30 after 45 years of service with the county.

He oversees 1,600 miles of road throughout the county and the 30 employees who maintain them.

His first 12 years were spent with the county engineering department. In 1977, he was named county highway superintendent.

Over the years, he has become accustomed to 10- to 15-hour days. "There are no set hours," he said. "It's whatever is needed. Sometimes, you come in on a Saturday."

"The best part was being able to help people," he said.

Morman said the problem-solving part of the job also appeals to him. "You have to react to what comes up. There is always something new," he said.

Experience helps, though. "There are only some things you can learn on the job," he said.

Paperwork and an increasing bureaucracy have been the biggest changes in his work. "I miss doing things with a handshake. Those days are gone," he said. Morman said every action now requires documentation or there's a liability risk.

Some days, half his time is spent on the paperwork. "I'd rather be outdoors sitting on a piece of equipment trying to help someone," he said.

He and wife Sonja expect to be able to spend more time with their three children and five grandchildren. He said the kids are eager for him to help with a list of home improvement projects.

He said he will miss the workers.

Commission chairman Jim Boehm said two applications have been received for Morman's position. A committee will start the interview process in the coming month.

He said a recognition date for Morman is pending.

(Reach reporter LeAnn Eckroth at 250-8264 or leann.eckroth@;bismarcktribune.com.)