Gitchi-Gami Trail Association Vice President Bill Blank and President Mark Sandbo went before the county board on November 11, 2013, requesting that the board send a letter to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) asking that they widen the shoulders to at least five feet when they resurface a portion of Highway 61 next year. The portion lies between County Road 34 in Lutsen and County Road 7 east of Cascade, where the current shoulders are 18 inches wide. They also requested that the board lend support to a state bonding bill that would include $809,000 to extend the Gitchi-Gami State Trail from Cascade to the Cutface wayside rest.
Blank said the vision for the Gitchi- Gami Trail was to have 87 miles of non-motorized [paved] trail from Two Harbors to Grand Marais. About 30 miles have been done so far. Blank said MnDOT has been a good supporter of the trail but cannot commit more funding to extend the trail at this time. The upcoming work between Lutsen and Cascade may be the only opportunity for decades to make that section safer for bicyclists, he said. Currently, 11½ miles of trail have been completed between Schroeder and Grand Marais.
Commissioner Garry Gamble said he supported efforts to extend the trail but pointed out that spending needs to be prioritized because funds are limited. He said he doesn’t want cost constituents more money and doesn’t want to put money into projects that have value for only a few people. “We can’t be spending money on frills, so to speak,” he said.
Commissioner Sue Hakes supported asking for money to finish undone portions of the trail. “Biking is the new golf,” she said.
As requested by Blank and Sandbo, the board passed motions authorizing letters to go out in support of widening the highway and allotting funding to extend the bike trail. Rumble strips
Commissioner Hakes reported that some people felt some residents were not treated fairly when MnDOT filled in some of the rumble strips east of town recently after receiving complaints about the noise they caused. She wondered whether discriminatory “socioeconomic” factors were involved.
Hakes suggested that they find out how MnDOT decided which sections to fill in and which to leave at this point.
A November 5 letter from MnDOT District Engineer Duane Hill to Commissioner Bruce Martinson stated, “MnDOT has completed the initial phase of the centerline rumble strip noise study on Highway 61 and will be starting to implement mitigation measures later this week.
“The preliminary results of this study indicate that the volume of sound created by a vehicle on the rumble strip is at least 15 decibels higher than the sound of the vehicle on pavement at 50 feet. This level of sound is higher than MnDOT’s previous studies have indicated. The final report will include data taken at varying locations along Highway 61.
“MnDOT will be partially filling in the rumble strips on the first 12 miles heading east out of Grand Marais on Highway 61 along with several isolated locations farther east. These mitigation measures are being made in the areas most frequently mentioned as areas of concern. Consideration was given to housing density, passing opportunities, weekend recreational traffic, bicycle and pedestrian traffic on the shoulder and proximity to Lake Superior.
“…These mitigation measures will continue this fall, weather permitting. Any work that is not completed will resume in the spring. MnDOT will assess these mitigation measures and welcomes additional comments. We will continue to study alternate styles of centerline rumble strips that can provide safety benefits at a more acceptable noise level.” Highway Department
County Engineer David Betts presented a third quarter update on the Highway Department budget. He expects to end the year with $600,000- $700,000 in the fund balance.
The board authorized the purchase of software to program the plow trucks and diagnose problems at a cost of $3,928. The board also approved the purchase of a shock assembly for the skid steer snow blower attachment. Last winter, the skid steer hit the edge of a manhole, causing injury to the driver and ruining the snow blower. The county had never had problems with the manhole in the past. The shock assembly will create a cushion and activate a hydraulic shoe that lifts the blower at the point of impact.
A memo from Maintenance Director Russell Klegstad requesting the purchase said, “The savings from avoiding just one of these accidents will pay for it three times over.”
The board approved the printing of a new county map at an estimated cost of about $2,800 for 3,000 maps. The company that printed the last county map went out of business, so the Highway Department worked with GIS staff to create a new and updated map that can be updated as needed. The new map reflects the geography of the county and reflects 1,000-1,500 hours of GIS staff time. “It’s remarkable,” Highway Engineer David Betts said. It will be sold for $5 in numerous county departments. Betts told the board that the U.S. Forest Service sells its maps for $9.
“It looks beautiful,” Commissioner Sue Hakes said.
The board approved a long-term medical leave for one of the snowplow drivers, a Maintenance II worker, expected to be out for 4½-6 months for surgery. Engineer Betts requested that a temporary replacement be hired to avoid delays in plowing from being understaffed. The worker will be paid according to the Maintenance II worker scale but will not receive the same benefits as permanent employees.
The position was not budgeted. Betts said, “There is a potential that this would be a workman’s comp issue.” The position will not be advertised. Betts said he would contact walk-in applicants and people who had applied for previously posted positions as well as people they know of who might be interested. Rosebush Hill SGSD hearing
At least two of seven property owners along Rosebush Hill Road attended a public hearing during the county board meeting to discuss the possibility of the county overseeing summer and winter maintenance of the road through a subordinate government service district (SGSD).
The estimated cost per property owner would be about $817 the first year and $743 the next three years, after which most of the extra gravel and work needed to get the road into shape would be done.
The board postponed a decision on creating the SGSD so the other property owners could be informed of the estimated costs. The public hearing will be continued at 10 a.m. November 26.
Leave a Reply