Wayne Sandberg, president of the Minnesota County Engineers Association, was present to recognize the county’s outstanding achievement at the board’s February 26 meeting. At a recent annual meeting of the Engineers Association, Fillmore County was selected for the 2018 Project of the Year award for its CSAH 1 project.
He noted this is the busiest road in the county. The reconstruction work was completed by four contractors over three years. This kept prices and staging manageable. The decision to do a full reconstruction was the right thing to do. The shoulders were widened and curves were reshaped to provide better sight distance, making the road safer.
Sandberg made note of the outstanding leadership of County Engineer Ron Gregg and the outstanding work of his staff. He also credited the county board for their leadership and vision.
Gregg thanked his staff for the great job on the CSAH 1 project.
Gregg, earlier in the board meeting, gave a presentation on the criteria for project selection in the county. He described the many factors used when selecting a highway project including the average daily traffic, the amount of heavy commercial truck traffic, safety issues, pavement condition, future develop that may affect traffic, and funding availability.
The county has 469 bridges; 56 bridges are currently functionally obsolete or structurally deficient. The most critical factor in selecting bridge replacement projects is structural strength. Other factors include functionality, width, residences effected, and funding availability.
The challenge is to maximize the funds that are available. Annual funding sources include county state aid, township bridge funding, half cent Local Option Sales Tax (LOST), and the Wheelage Tax. Each source of funds has limitations on how they can be used. LOST funding can only be spent on an approved list after a public hearing. The Wheelage Tax ($20 tax per vehicle) is to be spent on roadway preservation projects.
Commissioner Randy Dahl said he has been asked about these local taxes. He maintained there is not enough money coming from the state and without these local taxes, the county would need to bond for road projects. These two local tax sources of revenue provide just over 20% of the funding for county roads and bridges.
An eight-year capital improvement plan for road and bridge projects, using LOST funding, was adopted after a public hearing by the county board in August 2014. All projects planned for 2016 through 2018 have been completed. Projects include chipsealing for road preservation. They include surface reconditioning and bridge replacements on county roads. There can be additions or modifications to the list after another public hearing.
Counties compete for federal funding for road and bridge replacements each year through the Area Transportation Partnership Program.
The Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) funding is appropriated by the legislature for routes with regional significance. Counties also compete for funding through the Highway Safety Improvement Program.
Gregg explained when competing for federal funding, a project should be picked which can get the “biggest bang for the buck.” Roads are rated every other year by MnDOT. When applying for federal funding, applications are made for projects to be worked on four years later.
Other business in brief
• Approval was given to enter into an agreement with MnDOT for the replacement of the traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 52 and CSAH 2 in the corporate city limits of Chatfield. The county is responsible for one-quarter of the cost or an estimated $65,340.43.
• The county adopted two resolutions of support, agreeing to sponsor Lanesboro’s applications to MnDOT and act as the fiscal agent for each of two projects. The applications for Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) funding are for Beacon St. West, Rochelle Ave. North, and Coffee St. West; and for Kirkwood St. East. Gregg noted there is no money currently in this fund. He hopes the legislature will recognize a need for this funding. Applications are graded on the road’s regional significance.
• Approval was given to advertise for the CR 115 surface reconditioning project, expected to start in early summer.
• Approval was given to hire a part-time person for the summer for Extension/Veteran Services. The individual will help with preparation for the fair and summer programs.
• The resignation of Sherida Newgard, account technician, with early retirement incentive package was approved with thanks for 18 years of service, effective March 7.
• Dahl expressed his concern over the recent turnover in the Auditor/Treasurer’s office. He added it will be hard for the A/T to train new people when she isn’t fully trained herself. Chairman Duane Bakke added that payroll has been transferred to another department. He noted coordinator Bobbie Vickerman is still helping in the A/T office, adding this is the way the election process works. Commissioner Mitch Lentz commented that we tried to make a change (to hire someone with certain training and qualifications), but this is not what the voters wanted.
• A request to add an open vacancy with current candidate pool for account technician (now two full-time positions) as requested by auditor/treasurer was approved. Bakke said he hoped they can get two people with good backgrounds.
• Eight solid waste hauler licenses were renewed for 2019.
• The purchase of Civil Engineering Design Software (Softree) for Highway Department was approved at a cost of $9,975. The software should reduce cost. It combines design and drafting software.
• Approval was given to replace Barrier Firewall with Cisco Firewall units at the Courthouse and the county office building at a cost of $28,642.25. Vickerman said it will give us the security and firewall we need.
• Vickerman reported that the Personnel committee met last week and recommends having all service offices on one level. The suggestion was to move Land Records and Zoning to the area where the Auditor/Treasurer office is now. The A/T would move to where the Assessor office is now. The Recorders office is to stay where it is. Sentence to Serve will do much of the work involved for the moves.
• Bakke reported the DNR wants to come before the board to discuss Chronic Wasting Disease. The board authorized Bakke to convey the board’s wishes to the DNR. They don’t want to allow any shooting on county property.
• The annual employee recognition was held this day. Ten were recognized for five years of service, two for 10 years of service, three for 15 years of service, six for 20 years of service, three for 25 years of service, and two for 30 years of service. Many from the Highway department and Sheriff’s department were not present to receive their certificates due to work dealing with the recent blizzard. Kurt Njos received the Safety Award.
