County garage experiences significant rain damage

Waseca County Highway Engineer Jim Kollar reported to county commissioners during the Oct. 20 meeting that significant damage to the county garage on Fifth Street SE in Waseca occurred when preventive measures left in place by a roofing contractor failed and a 1-inch rain drenched the interior of the building. The company performing the work was Commercial Roofing of Kasson: the contract for the work had been awarded during the Sept. 1 county board meeting.

 

Kollar shared videos showing leaking water, and explained county staff had done its best to protect equipment including the building’s boiler, sensors and meters, and control panels.

The flat roof of the large building which houses county highway department offices, work areas, and large vehicle parking was in the process of having the roofing membrane replaced; anticipating rain, the contractor left preventive measures in place the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 14 and anticipated returning on Friday. 

 

The preventive measures failed in numerous locations. Kollar told commissioners his staff did what it could to protect interior elements during the event, called the contractor in to see the damage, and contacted Bauer Mitigation of Faribault to assess the circumstances and take steps to prevent mold and structural problems.

 

Kollar stated he could not provide an estimate of the damages because it was yet to be determined what extent of repair or replacement will be needed for the many pieces of equipment possibly affected. The consulting firm Widseth, which offers architecture and design services, is under contract with the county to provide contract administration and oversight services, and was also called in to assess circumstances at the county garage. Widseth had advised Kollar that the contractor’s insurance will be called upon to cover the damages.

 

Commissioner Brian Harguth observed that, when the county accepted the bid for the roofing project, it had followed the typical government procedure of selecting the “lowest responsible bid.” When summarizing bids during the Sept. 1 meeting, Kollar had informed commissioners 70 bids had been received: the seven lowest ranged from Commercial’s at almost $340,000, to one for $700,000. Widseth’s anticipated bid level on the project had been about $500,000.

 

Harguth asked energetically whether the word “responsible” is well chosen, and suggested the difference between the amount insurance will cover and what the county will still be “on the hook for” will be at least the difference in value between the lower and the higher bid. “Did we really save any money by choosing the ‘lowest responsible bidder?’” he asked.

 

In better news, Kollar also reported the county was selected to receive nearly $900,000 toward the $1 million cost of replacing a bridge on County Road 54 north of Alma City. Construction is scheduled to take place in 2027.

 

Kollar also informed commissioners he is helping the town of Waldorf with its planning and approval process for construction funds for a major roadway project. If received, the maximum grant to Waldorf would be for $1.5 million toward a project planned for 2029.

 

Also during the meeting, commissioners approved a request for up to $50,000 for a study that County Land and Water Resources director Chris Howard referred to as the “final piece of the puzzle” in planning and getting approval for a water re-route near the town of New Richland.  The study, Howard said, would supply vital information about the “downstream impact” of delivering water that would normally pass through New Richland directly to a downstream location on Boot Creek.

 

The study would also determine whether holding ponds would be needed along the route, thus helping determine overall construction expenses. More information about the study is included in a separate article which appears in this week’s edition.

 

County sheriff Jay Dulas requested that the board give official acceptance for up to $9,800 of funding from the national Toward Zero Deaths initiative. To be used in 2027, the funds can be used to provide pay for deputies when they carry out targeted patrols. Money can also purchase enforcement equipment, including portable breath testing and window tint meters.

 

County information technology supervisor Judy Hiller asked the board to officially acknowledge county participation in a statewide cybersecurity initiative by the Association of Minnesota Counties. She explained that cybersecurity workers in numerous Minnesota counties offer their time on a volunteer basis to a response team which will assist when any one participating county experiences a “cyber incident.” An example of a time when the team would assist is when a hacker might find a way to isolate and lock part of a county’s records, offering to return access only after the county pays “ransom.” A number of counties have experienced such incidents. Hiller said representatives from those counties might be among the team members who assist in future occurrences.

 

County public health nurse Sarah Berry shared with the board that the county opioid advisory committee has decided to award $2,500 earmarked specifically to benefit Waseca County residents taking part in Spero’s “Restore” program, which works with the families of children ages 11 to 17 years old who are exhibiting low attendance in school.