Road projects and funding for those projects were a big part of the agenda at the Sherburne County Commissioners Board Meeting Tuesday.
The board approved the Federal Transportation Grants Technical Assistance and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Discretionary Match Agreement with MnDOT for the reimbursement of Construction Administration on the Trunk Highway portion of the Hwy. 169/Co. Rd. 4 Interchange
The agreement will allow Sherburne County to be reimbursed $1,178,862.18 for the Trunk Highway portion of the Construction Administration contract with Bolton Menk.
The board also approved the Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) Grant Agreement and resolution with MnDOT for the reimbursement of construction administration on the non-Trunk Highway portion of the Hwy 169/Co. Rd. 4 Interchange. The grant agreement and resolution will allow the county to be reimbursed $853,658.82 for the local road portion of the construction administration contract with Bolton Menk.
River Crossing
The board approved a letter of support for the Corridors of Commerce Readiness Advancement Program submittal for the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Mississippi River crossing. The county has already secured $1 million through DEED for the Tier 1 EIS and is requesting another $1 million from the CoC Readiness Advancement Program to minimize the Local Fund participation.
Pedestrian Bridge
The board awarded the contract for the construction of the pedestrian bridge on Co. Rd. 5 along the Elk River to Redstone Construction, LLC at $741,360.06.
Other bidders for the contract were: S.M. Hentges & Son, Inc. $762,774.70; Vada Contracting, LLC $830,148.02; Kraemer North America, LLC $875,876.25; Meyer Contracting, Inc $1,116,508 and Urban Companies, LLC $1,238,110.
The engineer’s estimate was $871,764.
Project construction dates will be contracted from July 28, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
Co. Rd. 11 Interchange
The board approved a resolution in support of the Corridors of Commerce Readiness Advancement Program for the Hwy. 10 and Co. Rd. 11 Interchange Design.
In efforts to secure funding , the county submitted an application to the program requesting $4.25 million for completion of the project design, and has already secured $1.38 million in federal funds for the preliminary design and environmental documentation.
Property Acquisition
The board passed a resolution to acquire property for the Co. Rd. 29 and Co. Rd. 2 Reconstruction Project.
The county entered into a professional services agreement for the design of the intersection and related roadways in October, 2023. The county is now at a point in the process at which the county can begin negotiations to purchase needed temporary and permanent easements, as well as property, if required.
Park Funding
The board approved a resolution supporting state bonding to further the development and restoration of Two Inlets at Bdé Heḣáka - Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park in the 2026 Legislative Session. A State Capital Funding Request was submitted in 2024 and was not included in the bonding bill during the past session.
BCA Agreement
The board approved a resolution and a Joint Powers Agreement between Sherburne County and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) for the MN Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC).
The county and the MN BCA have a longstanding relationship of working together to investigate and prosecute crimes committed against children and criminal exploitation of children that are committed and/or facilitated by or through the use of computers, and to disrupt and dismantle organizations engaging in those activities.
By participating in the ICAC Task Force, the county will be reimbursed for equipment, training and expenses as they are incurred as a result of ongoing investigations.
Safety Platform
The board approved the purchase of the Flock Safety Platform in the amount of $54,000 for the Sheriff’s Dept.
The Flock Safety Platform is a situational awareness solution which uses technology to capture audio, video, image and recording data. Notification is provided upon data collection.
The platform uses license plate readers (LPRS) to gather data. LPRS will be stationed in various locations within Sherburne County and will aid law enforcement in various areas.
The Sheriff’s Office has been awarded an Automobile Theft Prevention Grant from the State of Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The grant will reimburse the county for the purchase of the platform.
Other Business
In other actions the board:
• Set a public hearing for July 22 to consider changes to the Sherburne County All Services and Fee Schedule, which would be made effective August 1, 2025;
• Accepted a $10,000 grant from the Initiative Foundation to be utilized to update and rewrite the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance. The total project cost is approximately $75,000;
• Approved an Application for a MN Lawful Gambling Exempt Permit for the City of Big Lake Firefighters Relief Association to be used for an Oct. 18 raffle at the Big Lake Fire Dept.;
• Approved tobacco licenses renewals for Briggs Lake General Store in Palmer Twp.; Santiago Country Store in Santiago Twp.; Sand Dunes Fuel and Fuel, Sand Dunes Spirits in Orrock Twp.; Holiday Stationstore #598 in Becker Twp.;
• Revoked an existing Conditional Use Permit at the request of the property owner, RD Offutt, for a farm-related manufactured home as a temporary residence which has been removed from the site in Clear Lake Twp.;
• Revoked an existing Interim Use Permit for a yard waste composting facility at the request of the property owner Douglas Manthei and applicant Karl Bekius because the operation is no longer located on the property in Livonia Twp.;
• Authorized Parks staff to publish a Public Hearing Notice for Aug. 5 on the county’s intent to enact updates to the county’s Park Regulations Ordinance.
