Commissioners discuss ditches, bridges

A laundry list of regular items was approved during the first meeting of the Waseca County Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning, September 6. 

County board minutes for five meetings from May 17, 2022 through June 21, 2022 were approved. 

Petitioners Jones, Haugh and Smith Inc, received approval to dismiss improvement proceedings on County Ditch #30 and pay all accrued expenses related to the project. An original request for proposed improvements on the drainage system was approved in April of 2017. “We are now contacting the Waseca County Drainage Authority to request the petition mentioned be dismissed, due to the fact that at least 60% of the original petitioners have signed this letter below and wish to end pursuing the drainage improvement project,” a letter from Johnes, Haugh and Smith read. “We understand our obligations to pay any costs that have accrued throughout the process of examining and pursuing the petition and also acknowledge that any new proposed drainage project for the system must begin with a new petition.”

Estimates for individual ditch systems, specifically for tree and brush spray, along with hourly rates and current insurance certificates were presented from B and W Control Specialists. Prices per ditch ranged from $2,500 to as much as $8,500, with a total of 16 figures presented. 

Accountants/bills payable were approved. 

An array of action items were approved. During the recent LeSueur-Waseca Community Health Board evaluation of Food, Pools and Lodging Services, it was determined that the Waseca County Pool Ordinance contained a reference to a recently repealed section of MN rul 4717. The current ordinance wording meant the agency's evaluation does not meet a critical section of the review. The LeSueur Waseca Community Health Board passed a resolution at their July 5 meeting to support the ordinance revisions. In compliance, a public hearing for the ordinance was scheduled for September 20 at 9:30 a.m. 

The board approved a request for a speed study on 110th St, just north of Old Hwy 14 after hearing repeated concerns/reports of excessive speeds. 

The board heard a request for an award of contract to Midwest Contracting in the amount of nearly $500,000 for Janesville Township bridge #L4117. 

The board awarded Midwest Contracting the project of reconstructing Janesville Township bridge #4117 after the company submitted the low bid of nearly $500,000. Because of supply chain issues, the finish date for the project was for September 2, 2023.. 

Janesville Township will pay  up to $10,000 of engineering costs and $10,000 of construction costs. The remainder will be funded with Town Bridge funds allocated to Waseca County, which  has an available Town Bridge fund balance of $856,147.

Three bids were received for material transfer services at Solid Waste and Recycling Center. The board approved to award the contract to Thompson Sanitation, which had the lowest bid, for 2023-2024. 

Final payment of $41,737 was approved to ICOn Constructors LLC for the June replacement of a bridge over the Le Sueur River. The full contract amount was $815,186, approximately 4% more than originally submitted; the difference was caused by computational errors in the construction plans for reinforcing steel in the bridge deck and aggregate surfacing on the road. 

Asphalt Surface Technology (Astech) has completed the 2022 Bituminous Seal Coat project at various locations, including Janesville Township’s 403rd Ave.  Full cost of the project was $382,908; the board approved the final payment of $19,145. Funding for this project included $183,002 from the County Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), $191,853.07 of Fund 13-330 budget monies, and $8,053.50 from Janesville Township.

Bids received for completion of the wetland restoration order opened September 2 were forwarded to Waseca County staff members who are working on a recommendation for a “responsible bid.” 

Commissioners reported on the meetings they had attended over the past two weeks.

In closing, county administrator Michael Johnson provided an update on construction at the Waseca County Courthouse. He said that phase one is nearly complete and the final displaced staff members are moving back into their offices. Only “final touches” remain to be completed. The project included changes in office space between administration and human resource offices as well as other office updates, including the addition of a new “election room” which should allow for public viewing. 

The next regular meeting of the Waseca County Commissioners is scheduled for Tuesday September 20 at 9:30 a.m.