The Sherburne County Board spent a good portion of Tuesday’s meeting on road construction and related projects.

The board approved a Grade Crossing construction maintenance and easement agreement with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) for Co. Rd 65 in Haven Twp.

Sherburne County Public Works was successful in securing approximately $2.6 million in grant dollars to improve the safety by realigning the currently skewed intersection to be a perpendicular crossing with both the BNSF rail and Hwy. 10.

Co. Rd. 65 is proposed to be reconstructed in 2025 and BNSF requires a Grade Crossing Construction and Maintenance and Easement Agreement for all roadways crossing BNSF right of way. The county’s estimated share of the crossing reconstruction is $243,105.

Zimmerman Cost-Share

The board approved a cost-share agreement with City of Zimmerman for Co. Rd. 4 improvements. The improvements include the reconstruction of Co. Rd. 4 from 10th Street West to Co. Rd. 45; Installation of watermain within the Co. Rd. 4 right of way from 10th Street West to Co. Rd. 45; Installation of roundabout improvements (including associated trail and lighting) at the intersection of Co. Rd. 4 and 10th Street West; Installation of roundabout improvements (including associated trail and lighting) at the intersection of Co. Rd. 4 and Co. Rd. 45; Construction of trail improvements along Co. Rd. 4 from 13th Street West to Co. Rd. 45; Construction of storm sewer improvements to Co Rd. 4 from 10th Street West to Co. Rd. 45.

The county has prepared all plans, specifications, material quantities and all other documents necessary for construction of the project.

The city’s total cost share is estimated at $791,156.69. The county’s total cost share is estimated at $609,800.86. The final cost share will be based on the actual costs as bid.

Corridor Study

The board approved an agreement with Transportation Collaborative & Consultants (TC2) to complete a corridor study on Co. Rd 1 from Hwy. 10 to Co. Rd. 32. The 2.65-mile stretch of roadway is a major north-south corridor and is experiencing safety issues, including an increasing number and severity of accidents within the school zones.

The goals of the study are to quantify existing and future issues and needs of the corridor, evaluate a range of improvements and collaborate with the community to ensure a safe and efficient facility for all users.

The cost of the study is $200,892. The county has secured grant funding in the amount of $50,000 to offset part of the cost.

Bid Award

The board awarded the contract for roundabouts and trail construction on the Co. Rd. 4 project to New Look Contracting at $3,728,044.50. The company submitted the lowest of 14 bids received by the county. Project construction dates will be contracted from Nov. 18, 2024 through Oct. 31, 2025.

Other Business

In other actions the board:

• Revoked an Interim Use Permit (IUP) at the request of Big Lake School District 727, the property owner. The IUP for recreational activities on athletic fields has been amended and replaced;

• Designated Nov. 4-15 as Operation Green Light for Veterans in Sherburne County.  Counties, parishes and boroughs across the country light their buildings green to show support and appreciation for veterans;

• Approved a 2024 Leaf Drop agreement with Jan Donelson to allow residents in the Palmer Twp. area to bring their yard waste to Donelson’s farm. Jan uses the leaves and grass clippings by incorporating them into her fields for beneficial use. The agreement is covered by $1,000 in SCORE funding;

• Appointed Molly Ruby to the Sherburne County Economic Development Authority (EDA) for a six-year term, from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2030.