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Cook County Engineer Robbie Haas came before the commissioners to update the highway department 2022 plans.
Two bridges, the Cross River and Carlson Creek bridges, will be replaced this year. A three-span timber structure will be used at Cross River, with the construction project costing $1.4 million.
A double-barrel concrete box culvert will replace the bridge at Carlson Creek. The work there will tally $439,315.
The biggest summer project will be the work on Pike Lake Road (County Road 45), but Haas said bids haven’t come back yet.
Haas presented a contract for clearing the right of way along County Road 45.
Haas said only one company out of the six he contacted provided a quote to clear the right of way, and that was Skildum & Company, LLC of Grand Marais, who bid $32,500 per week for four weeks. While Haas thought the bid was high, he recommended commissioners approve it. After a short discussion, commissioners approved the proposal at the cost of $129,400. The work started on March 1. The stumps will be removed when the snow leaves the ground. Haas said the funds to pay for the right of way clearing would come from the Transportation Sales Tax as part of the CR 45 reconstruction project.
Haas also presented the 2023 bridgework that is being planned. Those projects include a Grand Portage bridge and realignment ($1.8 million). The new bridge will divert traffic from the historic stone bridge. Sawbill Creek will get a double-barrel box culvert at an estimated cost of $554,000; Alfred Creek will receive a reinforced concrete slab costing $600,000; Junco Creek’s bridge replacement is estimated to cost $400,000. A single-span prestressed concrete beam with timber railings will replace the bridge at Flute Reed River.
Plans also include reclaiming 2.7 miles CSAH 8 from the end of the road to the Ball Club Road and include 5th Ave. W. reconstruction. Haas also unveiled work that would take place in 2024 and beyond.
*Commissioners approved Schroeder Townships’ request to begin a hearing process for the public to discuss a plan to create a mixed-use zone that would take the place of the General Commercial zone was approved.
If established, a mixed-use district in Schroeder will provide for a mix of essential commercial services to the public. Permitted uses would include hotels, motels, single family, manufactured and modular homes, home occupations, eating and drinking establishments, and more.
*Commissioners approved the resignation of IT Systems Administrator Art Smolecki with regret.
*Leanne Avery was hired to fill the Community Center Assistant position. Leeanne replaced Izabela Sheehan, who transferred to Public Health and Human Services.
A special use permit was approved for Carol Berglund and Tamara Krause to operate a seasonal event venue/wedding barn within the FAR-3 Zone District at 392 County Road 60.
Also approved was an updated job classification and compensation study for county employees. The work will be done by the David Drown Associates in an amount not to exceed $25,000.
Administrator James Joerke said union stewards would be involved in the process. The goal is to update the job classifications in the next three months. “If this process doesn’t work, the county will return to performing those classifications in-house, said Joerke adding it will be very effective and a huge timesaver for county staff if the work/ comp study methods used by David Drown Associates are what the county needs.
Commissioner Dave Mills said, “I like this approach and doing a trial with the job descriptions to see how we like it, and the jobs committee likes it. We are doing this is to make sure our employees are being properly paid.”
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