ENTERPRISE — In a late item added to the agenda of the Wednesday, Jan. 15, meeting of the Wallowa County Board of Commissioners, the board approved $508,685 for public transportation coming through a state grant.

The money will be divided over the next two years, said Caprice Locke, county grants manager. It is expected to be part of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund as recommended by the STIF advisory board, Locke said.

She had two men present to explain the details of the STIF program. They said the funds are intended to cover expenses to improve intercommunity connections and will be run through Community Connection of Northeast Oregon, which oversees public transportation in the area.

The projects the grant will pay for include a qualified entity administrative fee for record-keeping and reporting of state and federal-funded transportation projects, an administrative fee of up to $15,000 year for Community Connection, matching funds for federal grants to Community Connection, demand response service to enhance the mobility of county residents, rides for medical service such as doctor’s appointments, vehicle repair and upkeep costs not included under preventative maintenance, and bus signs and shelters.

Locke said one valuable aspect of the STIF funds is that any not use are carried over to the next funding period.

In other business Wednesday, the commissioners:

• Were told by Commissioner John Hillock that he is working on state House Bill 2376, sponsored by state Rep. Bobby Levy, to partner with Business Oregon for economic development.

• Were told by Commissioner Lisa Collier that she plans to attend a “commissioners’ college” set up to teach new county commissioners the details of their new jobs. Commissioners Susan Roberts and Hillock both spoke highly of the event, saying it provides valuable insight into all aspects of county government.

• Approved accepting a bid from CXT for a vault toilet at the Turner Lane Trailhead on the east side of the East Moraine above Wallowa Lake. The expenditure request was submitted by Katy Nesbitt, natural resources and economic development director for the county. She said the county is still awaiting design specifications before requesting an actual bid. The toilet will be paid for by a grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

• Approved a request for funds for electrical work and lighting for the new 100×100 steel multipurpose building at the fairgrounds in Enterprise.

• Approved a resolution to exempt solicitation of a fairgrounds contract from bids. As Roberts explained, the exemption is merely a legal formality.

• Appointed pool members to the county’s Property Value Appeal Board.

• Approved several intergovernmental agreements. Those agreements were between the county and the Wallowa Rural Fire Protection District, the Joseph Cemetery Maintenance District, the city of Wallowa, the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Enterprise Cemetery Maintenance District and the Lostine Cemetery District.