The Sherburne County Board Tuesday approved the use of $2.4 million in supplemental contingency funds for the installation of Positive Train Controls (PTC) for Northstar trains.
The control system, which includes installation of equipment on all locomotives, cab cars and off-track sites along the Northstar route, is mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and must be implemented by Dec. 31, 2015.
The controls are used to prevent derailments and collisions from trains headed down the same track, said Public Works Director John Menter.
The Met Council originally allocated $2 million for the controls. But the actual price came in at $4.4 million.
Commissioner Felix Schmiesing said the higher cost is a result of too few firms competing for the contract.
“Part of the problem is, the federal mandate kind of outstripped the availability of technology and providers to do it,” he said. “If they would have pushed it back a couple of years, there may have been more players in the game. But now we’re pretty limited on who can do it.”
“Which is why the price tag ended up being so significantly higher than the initial estimate,” said Menter.
The use of contingency funds was approved by the executive change control board earlier this month. All partners have to agree to the funding before dollars can be spent on the project.
Menter said the money will come from contingency funds already in place from Phase I of the Northstar project.
“This requires no additional county funds,” he said.
Funding Agreement
The board also approved the 2015 Subordinate Funding Agreement with the Met Council for Northstar operations.
The total cost to all Northstar partners totals $7,505,708. Under the agreement, the county will contribute $16.1%, or $1,208,419.
Other Business
In other action the board:
• Renewed a contract with Data Abstract Solutions. The firm will pay the county $0.12 per image for bulk non-private data provided by the recorder’s office;
• Approved the appointment of Jeremy Barnhart to the Sherburne County Economic development Authority (EDA) to serve a representative from Dist. 1;
• Awarded the 2015 contract to provide vending services at the Government Center and Becker Public Works Building to First Choice Food & Beverage Solutions. The county’s average monthly commission is $745, which provides funds for employee funeral memorials, retirements and the Holiday appreciation luncheon;
• Approved a 3.2% Malt Liquor License for Del-Tone/Luth Gun Club in Haven Twp.;
• Approved the expenditure of approximately $440 to cover the cost of checking the accuracy of voting equipment that tallied election results from Orrock Twp., Precinct 2 in Princeton and St. Cloud Ward 2, Precinct 5 as part of state law;
• Revoked conditional use permits (CUPs) for five businesses in Baldwin Twp. that are no longer active as confirmed by the previous CUP holders;
• Approved a property tax abatement of $320.34 for Michael Donais because of a fire that destroyed his house and garage on 196th Circle in Big Lake Twp. in January;
• Approved a three-year agreement with American Solutions for Business at $8,152.95 for printing and mailing the county’s property tax statements and valuation notices. The price does not include postage.
