“ I don’t think we need to reinvent the wheel here; maybe just put some rubber on it. Highway Engineer David Betts ”
Several months into his position as Cook County highway engineer, David Betts appealed to commissioners Tuesday, November 16, 2010 for direction on whether or not to continue pursuing a joint maintenance facility with several other governmental entities and one nonprofit, a project that had been spearheaded by former county engineer Shae Kosmalski.
The county had already gone in with ISD 166, the City of Grand Marais, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Arrowhead Transit on a study of each agency’s space needs. After that first phase, the school district decided not to pursue the project any further because of financial constraints. Despite the fact that commissioners had previously approved spending $3,127.80 for DSGW Architects of Virginia, Minnesota to create a concept plan, Betts decided to ask them if they really wanted to continue the process.
A November 10 memo from Betts to the board stated, “I concur with my predecessor’s analysis of our department’s facility needs and deficiencies, including the pressing issues of a deficient heating system, site drainage problems, a serious lack of storage space for the office portion of the department [some files are stored in the men’s bathroom], and a shortage of interior parking for countyowned vehicles.
“Additionally, I’ve spoken with Grand Marais City Administrator Mike Roth. The City of Grand Marais has an urgent need for additional space for their public works facilities and has a great desire to move forward with planning for new facilities.
“Taking all of these needs into account, I still have serious concerns regarding the potential operation of a joint use facility, along with some of the functionality of a potential site.”
In addition to the needs outlined in his memo, Betts indicated to commissioners on November 16 that a truck wash and proper storage for road salt would be very useful. He said, however, “I do have some concerns over how a joint use facility would operate.”
The board discussed the feasibility of using the current highway garage site for a multiagency building, which would be about 82,000 square feet. Betts said the property, which has setback requirements and a stream running through it, would not be big enough for such a large building along with the space that would be needed for large equipment to maneuver in and out.
In addition, constructing a larger facility on the site could potentially lead to removal of the Goble building, a large garage on the property, which Betts said he has no problem with. He added that walling off a break room so employees wouldn’t have to breathe in truck fumes would be good, but other than that the building is fine. “As far as I’m concerned,” he said, “we’re keeping it.”
” Commissioner Bruce Martinson said he thought waiting awhile before pursuing the project further might be a good idea.
“I’d just as soon take this off your plate right now,” Commissioner Jim Johnson said.
Commissioner Jan Hall concurred. “I don’t think we’re ready to make a move yet,” she said.
“Now is the time to back out if the board doesn’t plan to pursue a joint use facility,” Betts said. He stated that he didn’t want to lead the other agencies on.
Commissioner Fritz Sobanja pondered whether the school garage and the county garage, both just east of Cook County Schools on County Road 7, were the best locations for such facilities. He pointed out that traditionally, schools are surrounded by residential neighborhoods. He suggested that ISD 166 and the county locate their maintenance facilities in Cedar Grove Business Park.
Commissioner Bruce Martinson said the business park was considered as a site but wouldn’t be suitable because of the steep slope of the land and the large percentage of wetlands there. He said Shae Kosmalski had thought U.S. Congressman Jim Oberstar might help them procure federal funding for a joint maintenance facility, but Oberstar was voted out on November 2.
The board approved a motion to drop the pursuit of a joint use facility at this time. They discussed the possibility of sharing a truck washing facility and salt storage, however.
“I don’t think we need to reinvent the wheel here,” said Betts. “Maybe just put some rubber on it.”
Road project under budget
The board approved final payment to Ulland Brothers for a “reclamation” project on the Gunflint Trail in the amount of $2,627,516.31— below the contractor’s original bid by $531,543.99. The project involved grinding up the pavement that was there, adding an emulsion to it, and laying it back down again. According to Highway Department Engineer David Betts, the lower cost was largely due to the fact that less emulsion was needed than had been anticipated.
Single bids for private road
plowing
The Highway Department received only one snowplowing bid for each of the four private roads that the county gets paid to maintain through special service tax district assessments. The bidders were Mike Rose Excavating for Evergreen Road, Greg C. Gecas for Mile-O-Pine, Bud’s Towing and Plowing for Voyageur’s Point, and Gene Erickson for West Rosebush Lane. All bids were approved.
Engineering software
training investment
Theboard gave Betts the goahead to spend $6,900 for the engineering staff to be trained in an “AutoCAD with Civil 3D” computer program the department purchased two years ago. Thesoftwarewas not configured properly for the department’s use and the staff has not been able to take full advantage of its ability to create three-dimensional models of road systems that change dimensions as data is put into it. “Thesoftwareis an incredibly powerful program,” Betts said.
Eagle Point Software Corporation, where Betts received training after college, will send personnel to Cook County to get the staff trained and will include additional software and one year of technical support.
Betts was not sure why the program was purchased without training to go along with it. The software would be able to do the “mundane” work— the drawing—while leaving the design work to the engineering staff. “It’s no substitute for brain power,” Betts said. Of the engineering staff he said, “They’re good, smart guys and they should be able to pick this up pretty quick.”
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