BRAINERD – A Highway 12 rehabilitation project originally planned for 2025 is expected to be completed this year.
When state funding was cut in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, the project was scheduled to be delayed until 2025. Crow Wing County received a $2,102,204 Federal Surface Transportation Block Grant in 2022 for use in 2025. An agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation allows the project to be completed in 2024 instead.
The agreement will allow the county to use other funding sources to advance the project, and the grant amount will be reimbursed to the county from federal funds in 2025.
The plan is to resurface Highway 12 from Highway 6 to Highway 210. The Crow Wing County Board approved the agreement at its meeting on Tuesday, August 13.
In other business areasthe district council:
Heard by Sheriff Eric Klang They are narrowing down their choices for a new data management system. Klang said they have had the current system for 17 years and it is outdated, while a new system will provide better data. Commissioner Paul Koering said Commissioner Doug Houge has spoken to the Deerwood City Council about their payment for the data management system, which could be up to about $15,000, which is a lot of money for a small municipality.
“Currently they are all paying about $3,000 to $4,000, and the amount will increase significantly,” Klang said.
Klang said they paid about $1.2 million for the recording system 17 years ago and could not get the same system for that amount today. The current annual maintenance contract for the current system is about $255,000 a year and the new one will cost about $500,000 a year. Klang said he has reached out to councils to inform them so they can start preparations.
“We’re not going to have the same luxury of only paying $3,000 a year for a maintenance contract. The costs are going to go up,” Klang said, adding that it may take another two years because they have grants. More discussion on funding is expected for the board’s budget committee agenda on Aug. 22, which will address costs and some of the funding sources.
Regarding personnel changes: Matthew Pepper, a health technician at the prison, and Kalsey Stults, a health educator with Community Services, have both resigned. Stults announced on Facebook that she started a job at Sourcewell this month. The loss of employees to Sourcewell has been a recurring topic at County Board meetings. Kathy Delaney, a social worker with Community Services, has retired.
New hires included: Autumn Jordan, probation officer; Lois Nacey, Robert Nacey, James Tropp, Patrick Harding and Brian Brewer, all with start dates of Aug. 12, in new positions as part-time bailiffs. Other new hires included: Tara Kreller, 911 dispatcher; Benjamin Fogarty, forester; Cory Wientjes, environmental services technician; Amy Holmberg, social worker.
Approved acquisition of right of way for turning and bypass lanes as part of a resurfacing project for Highway 1 between County Highway 66 and State Highway 6 planned for 2025.
Approved tenders to restore and protect a hillside adjacent to County Road 133 at the Sunset Lake junction, 5 miles southeast of Deerwood. The county reported that the hillside has been eroding for years. The project is being funded by Local Option Sales Tax funds.
Approved the continuation of a landfill cost reimbursement programthat allows nonprofits to apply for a $1,000 rebate on landfill costs. The program was launched as a trial in 2019. The county reported that there were two applications in the first year, one of which was paid to Salem West and one of which was rejected for not meeting the criteria.
No applications were received in 2020. One application was paid out for $964 in 2021, two applications received a total of $836 in 2022, three applications received a total of $3,000 in 2023, and a total of $2,000 so far in 2024.
The county reported that updates clarified the requirements. People must dispose of trash at the county landfill.
Public hearing scheduled for 9:05 a.m. on September 10 to consider changes to Crow Wing County’s solid waste ordinance.
Approved a preliminary plan for Barbeau Road Townhomes on a total of 15 lots, to build seven duplexes on 14 lots and retain one out lot. The land is zoned as a 2.5-acre rural residential development. Septic wells are planned. The homes will be built on the private road Piper Lane, a cul-de-sac. The development will include 14 units with shared wells. The land is located in unorganized territory in the First Assessment District on Barbeau Road, west of Highway 371, north of Baxter.
Approved a preliminary plan for Ohlen’s Landing for seven lots, a reparcel of The Homestead property established in 2000 on Bass Lake in Center Township. The previous parceling program included one lot with lake access. The parceling program was straightened to allow other property owners access to the lake.
Public hearing scheduled for 9:15 a.m. on September 10 as Alderman for Unorganized Territory regarding a petition to clear a portion of Maple Drive, now known as Elm Drive, in the First Assessment District. The road is on the Ojibwa Park zoning ordinance. The road dead ends and has not been maintained by the county.
Reach Renee Richardson, editor in chief, at 218-855-5852 or [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter @DispatchBizBuzz.
