Houston County Commissioners Approve 2025 Highway Equipment Purchases

On January 28, the Houston County Commissioners approved several key actions, including the 2025 equipment quotes for the highway department. 

The meeting was called to order at 9 a.m. by Chairman Eric Johnson, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. All commissioners were present except for Kurt Zehnder.

County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski confirmed that all equipment buys for his department and budgeted for in 2025 have been approved. The approved equipment purchases include:

1. Tandem axle truck from Nuss Truck for a purchase price of $158,517.18, with a total cost (including motor vehicle tax) is $169,415.24.
2. Tandem axle truck box from Towmaster in the amount of $210,678. 
3. Air compressor for $12,271.00. Budgeted amount was $15,000.
4. Trailer for $22,026.94. Budgeted amount was $25,000.
5. Soil conditioner for $12,083.13. Budgeted amount was $15,000.
6. Two storage containers at a total of $17,600.00.  Budgeted amount was $18,000.
7. Steel drum roller with a budget of up to $15,000.
8. Pickup for weed spraying with a budget of up to $50,000. 

The total cost of all eight items is $509,074.31. Commissioner Cindy Wright confirmed with Pogodzinski that a number of items came in under budget.

After the purchases were approved, Commissioner Greg Myhre joked, “You robbed us pretty hard today.” 

The board also unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from the January 21 board meeting, as well as the consent agenda, which included the following two items:

1. Hire Jessica Kraus as a full-time Assistant County Attorney. 
2. Approve a gambling permit for “Just B Caus.” The drawing will be held at the Barn on South Ridge in Mount Prairie Township on April 26.

Pogodzinski recommended that the board accept the Local Bridge Replacement (LBRP) funds for the replacement of the bridge on County 10 near Schech’s Mill. The total costs of the project is $461,933.57, with $141,967.66 covered by LBRP funds and the balance, $319,965.91, funded by regular construction allotments. The request was unanimously approved.

Pogodzinski also recommended awarding the Highway 2 paving contract to Dunn Blacktop for a total cost of $2,801,601.74. This was the only bid received, and it was approximately $30,000 higher than the county’s estimate of $2,772,637.60. Pogodzinski explained that the reason it come in over the estimate can be attributed to the cost to grind up the old pavement and the traffic control numbers came in higher than the county’s numbers.

Pogodzinski, along with Bolton & Menk Aviation Project Manager Silas Parmar, updated the board on the airport T-hangar project. The project will receive 95% federal funding, with the remaining 5% funded by the state and county. No action was need at this time as the board had already approved advertising for bids in a previous meeting.

In other business, the board:

• Appointed Chase Munson and Franklin Hahn to the Planning Commission for a three-year term (January 2025 through December 31, 2027). 
• Approved advertising to fill a vacant position on the Board of Adjustment created by Hahn’s appointment to the Planning Commission.
• Approved the payments presented by Interim Administrator Carol Lapham.

Before going into closed session at 10:18 a.m. to discuss labor negotiations, the commissioners and Lapham provided brief reports. No action was taken during the closed session.