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Cook County Highway Engineer Robbie Hass came before the commissioners on April 13 requesting permission to award KGM Contractors, Inc. three projects: two bridge replacements and one repair.
KGM was the only bidder on each of the projects, and each bid was significantly higher than the engineer’s estimates.
KGM bid $554,499.95 for the Larch Creek Culvert replacement while engineer estimates were $364,797.75 for the job. A similar bid of $538,709.86 was submitted for the Seagull Creek Culvert Replacement which also had a similar engineer culvert replacement estimate of $367,373.50.
Hass, who has only been on the job about six months, noted each project was remote, and mobilization of equipment and material costs came in higher than anticipated.
KGM’s bid of $143,881.40 for the Bog Crossing repairs was about $44,000 higher than the engineer estimates of $99,717.
Commissioner Stacey Hawkins said she was frustrated by the difference in contractor bids versus engineer estimates, but she noted, “This happens a lot in Cook County…Next time double your estimates,” she said jokingly.
On a positive note, all the above jobs are covered by state aid funds.
Hass said estimates were a rough tool to use to figure costs, but kidded, he might just take Stacey up on her advice and double his estimates for future work.
Next Hass asked commissioners to approve a two-year contract with Braun Intertec Corporation to conduct structural testing on all of the county’s 113 miles of paved roads to determine each road’s strength and determine what’s underneath the roads.
Reconstructing roads is very expensive, Hass said, and knowing what is underneath a road helps determine what future type of construction is needed to maintain the road.
Braun Intertec Corp would be paid $36,704 this year and $36,906 next year for their work. Funds to pay Braun Intertec Corp would come from money budgeted from the vacant Engineer Technician position.
To perform their job, Braun Intertec Corp uses Ground Penetrating Radar complemented with coring and hand auger borings to determine road thickness and underlying structures.
Hass said the work performed by Braun Intertec Corp would be a big help to him and county road crews who perform maintenance and set road weight limits in the spring.
Commissioner Ann Sullivan motioned for support with Commissioner Bob Svaleson seconding and all commissioners voted yes to award the contract to Braun Intertec Corp.
In other highway work, LHB was awarded the contract to design the Alfred Creek bridge and MSA Professional Services, Inc. was given the contract to design the Sawbill Creek bridge replacement.
LHB bid $46,561 and MSA’s design fee bid was $33,164. Both bids came in under the $50,000 budget for each design, said Hass.
Hass said construction could happen in 2022 if bridge bonds are awarded and commissioners approve the contracts.
In other county board proceedings:
*Commissioners approved the annual Saganaga Lake Parking Contract with Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. Fees collected for parking cover all costs and provide some funding for the upkeep of other county lake sites.
*The Special Road Use Permit for the upcoming Le Grand du Nord Cycling event was approved.
*A resolution for the county to act as legal sponsor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources snowmobile and cross country ski trail grants, with Auditor/ Treasurer Braidy Powers acting as the fiscal agent for the grants, was approved. The grant money is given to area snowmobile clubs and Nordic ski trail associations who maintain and improve the trails for the public.
*Pamela Dixon, Cook County Human Resources Director appeared before the board requesting approval for two updated job descriptions and classifications. One was for the Aquatic Invasive Species Supervisor and the other was for the Deputy Auditor, Taxation/Payroll/Benefits Specialist. Both requests had been reviewed and approved by the job evaluation committee before coming to the commissioners. Approval was unanimous for the new classifications.
*Cook County Land Services Director Tim Nelson came before the board with proposed Vacation Rental and Sign Ordinance Amendments as well as proposed Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) Ordinance and proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments.
Concerning the vacation rental ordinance, Nelson said the Planning Commission wanted to eliminate the pro-rating of the license fee for the first year of operation for new vacation rentals based on the time of year that the operation started and instead charge a single level fee of $200.
A small change to the sign ordinance clarifies that the county ordinance is designed to regulate commercial signs and not non-commercial speech or content.
The Wind Energy Conversion Systems Ordinance was passed in 2003 to give framework for placement and operation of wind energy towers in the county. A minor change includes a simplification of permitting provisions and allows for placement of wind towers up to 35 feet in any zone district with a simple Land Use Permit. Wind towers taller than 35 and 199 feet would require a Conditional Use permit.
The proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments “reflect simple minor housekeeping updates and/ or provide clarification,” said Nelson. There were no public comments on any of the proposed changes to the ordinances, said Nelson.
*Cook County Attorney Molly Hicken led commissioners through a “mini-training” on treaties, sovereignty, and the history of federal acts and policies affecting Native American people and lands.
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