In an effort to keep up with road maintenance, the Sherburne County Board Tuesday approved the expenditure of $483,000 for the purchase of two new tandem trucks for the maintenance department.

 

The purchase is a continuation of the county’s effort to replace its old vehicle fleet.

 

In 2009, Public Works Director John Menter proposed the idea of a fleet replacement budget to try to catch up with the county’s old equipment. That year the county budgeted $436,000 for new equipment. 

 

But when the recession hit soon after, that allocation was cut below $200,000 a year, and the department began repairing, rather than replacing the old trucks.

Last year, the board approved the purchase of four new vehicles at a cost of $845,000, and increased the replacement budget to $600,000. They also budgeted $600,000 for 2015 in an effort to continue to replace the county’s aging fleet.

 

“These two trucks will replace a 20-year old tandem truck and a 22-year old single-axle truck,” said  Menter. “So I think we’ve pretty much used up the service life on those vehicles.”

 

He said the old vehicles are being sold at bid auctions.

 

The board also passed a resolution to acquire a parcel on Co. Rd. 4 near Hwy. 169 in Zimmerman by eminent domain.

 

Highway Engineer Rhonda Lewis said the county needs the land to make frontage road improvements and has been unsuccessful negotiating with the property owner.

 

In other action the board:

•Approved the final contract payment of $236,682.94 to Hardrives for 2014 overlay projects on Co. Roads 6, 24, 35, 48, 50 and 73;

 

•Approved the final contract payment of $41,033.88 to Hardrives for  improvements to the intersection of Co. Roads 4 and 29, and Co. Roads 3 and 5;

 

•Approved a quit claim deed to clear up title issues for Michael and MaryJo Ann Hoefer regarding an easement on their property on Co. Rd. 16;

 

•Approved advertising for bids to reconstruct Co. Rd. 15 from 211th Ave. to 233rd Ave.;

 

•Approved advertising for bids for pavement marking on various county roads;

 

•Approved advertising for bids for bituminous sealcoating on various county roads and township roads in Becker and Clear Lake township;

 

• Approved advertising for bids for bituminous overlay, turn lane construction and culvert replacement on portions of County Roads 10, 14, 16, 33, 51 and 61;

 

• Approved a two-year collective bargaining agreement with Law Enforcement Labor Services, Dispatcher Unit, which includes a tow percent salary increase per year, the same cafeteria plan contribution as non-union employees, an increase in PTO benefit for those with 20 or more years and an increase in shift differential from $0.80 to $0.90 per hour;

 

•Approved an increase in shift differential from $0.80 to $0.90 per hour for property maintenance staff to coincide with jail employees working the same hours;

 

• Approved revisions in the Phased Retirement Option policy to conform with the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance contract;

 

• Approved a gambling application to conduct excluded Bingo for Travelers Country Club in Clear Lake Twp. for May 23, June 27 and July 26;

 

• Approved a gambling premises permit application for Zimmerman Fire Dept. at Ridgewood Bay Resort in Baldwin Twp.;

 

•Approved a property tax rebate of $221.82 for Christopher Fern because of a fire that damaged his home in Orrock Twp. in August, 2014; 

 

• Approved a property tax rebate of $1,282.11 for Patrick Riley because of a fire that damaged his home in Zimmerman in December, 2013;

 

• Proclaimed March as Professional Social Work Month in Sherburne County.