Island County commissioners are seeking federal pork, possibly for a new trash compactor that would squish trash into tighter bales.

During a work session Wednesday, County Administrator Michael Jones asked the commissioners to select a project for which to seek federal earmark spending. He explained that Merchant McIntyre, a federal government relations agency, advised the county that selecting just one, or possibly two, top priority projects is the best strategy.

The firm recommended that the cost of the project be no more than $3 to $5 million, Jones said.

Jones said he worked with facilities and public works staff to come up with a list of four potential projects for the commissioners to consider.

The first recommendation is to replace three elevators and add a generator to the county’s law and justice center, which houses the courts and offices for the sheriff, prosecutor, clerk and coroner. The current elevators are aging to the point where they will no longer be “supported technology,” Jones said, and the proposed generator would provide the building with full power during an outage. The estimated combined cost is $1.25 million.

The second recommended project is the addition of a compactor and site improvements at the Coupeville Transfer Station. An upgraded trash compactor has been included in county plans for years since it would increase trash storage capacity. Jones said the project “has a good story behind it” because it would help keep rates down, build resiliency in the case of interruptions in trash shipping and reduce the county’s carbon footprint by lowering the number of trucks needed to haul away refuse. The estimated cost is $2.5 million.

The third proposal is to replace the county’s Cornet Bay Dock, which is estimated to cost $975,000.

The fourth and most expensive proposal is for the widening of Highway 20 between Welcher and Race roads. The project would add paved shoulders, which would improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. The estimated cost is $5 million.

Commissioners Melanie Bacon and Janet St. Clair said they didn’t want to make a final decision without Commissioner Jill Johnson, who was out sick.

Bacon said her top priority was likely to be the improvements to the law and justice building, while she was struggling to choose between the highway or transfer station project as her second priority.

St. Clair spoke in favor of the improvements to the transfer station, emphasizing the importance of resiliency to emergencies. The transfer station, for example, was closed temporarily in April because the railroad company was unable to provide shipping containers.

“I don’t want to tell people we’re not going to pick up your trash for the next three months,” she said.

In addition, St. Clair identified the highway project as her other priority, although she said she could be convinced to support the law and justice building project.

Commissioners plan to make a final decision at a meeting next week.