The Sherburne County Board Tuesday re-appointed Rhonda Lewis as the county’s highway engineer for a four-year term.
Lewis started with the county in 1998 and was assistant engineer under Public Works Director Dave Schwarting, who also served as the county engineer.
Lewis was appointed highway engineer in May, 2005 after Schwarting was let go by the county. At that time, the county split the director/highway engineer position and hired John Menter as director.
Road Bids
The board awarded the contract for safety enhancements on various county roads to Hardrives at $1,618,746.96. Other bidders were Knife River Corp. ($1,632,028.09) and Tri-City Paving ($1,709,019.13).
The board awarded the contract to add right turn and bypass lanes on Co. Rd. 9 near the Sherburne Wildlife Refuge to Helmin Construction at $81,984.50. Other bidders included Knife River ($109,618.45), Rum River Contracting ($110,497.63) and New Look Contracting ($124,976.25).
Bridge Replacement
The board passed a resolution to replace two bridges that span the Elk River within the next five years: the Co. Rd. 6 bridge in Haven Twp. (2017) and the Co. Rd 3 bridge in Palmer Twp. (2018).
Score Funding
The board approved the use of SCORE funds to subsidize a source-separated organics program by Sherburne County 4-H at the county fair.
The funds will be used to purchase compostable food-serving products and compostable trash bags. In addition, the funds will cover two picnic tables made from recycled plastic. The tables are designed to meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act and have an extension that accommodates a wheelchair.
The board also approved up to $11,256 in SCORE funding to purchase a cardboard bailer for the Government Center.
John Exner with the zoning department said it would reduce monthly hauling costs for removing dumpsters filled with cardboard.
Other Business
In other action the board
• Approved a gambling premises permit renewal for Princeton Youth Hockey at Fairway Shores in Baldwin Twp.;
•Set the pay rate for Veterans Service Officer Bruce Price at $54,080 per year;
• Set a public hearing for June 16 at 9:15 p.m. to discuss amendments to the EDA resolution;
• Awarded the bid to replace a climate control unit in the jail master control area to Daikin at $18,700, and awarded the bid to replace a government center water heater to Integrity Plumbing & Mechanical at $11,200;
• Set a public hearing for June 2 to revise the All Services and Fee Schedule for the Planning & Zoning Dept.;
• Appointed Bryan Adams to the Sherburne County Planning Commission representing Orrock Twp.;
• Approved advertising for bids to replace the Co. Rd. 24 bridge over the Elk River in Becker;
• Approved advertising for bids for bituminous overlay on Co. Rd. 7 and Co. Rd. 65;
• Approved advertising for bids for culvert replacement on Co. Rd. 3 between Hwy. 10 and Co. Rd. 20 and between Co. Rd. 23 and Co. Rd. 5;
• Approved a transfer of $6,630 from the unallocated recorder’s fund to public works to purchase historical imagery to be used by zoning and public works;
• Proclaimed May as Mental Health Month in Sherburne County;
• Accepted a $1,083 grant from the Central Minnesota Community Foundation to be used for the Kindness, Intelligence, Decency and Safety (KIDS) Choice Program.
