Posted: 9/27/05
County picking up extra costs on La Crescent project
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
County commissioners approved a contract extension for the County Road 29 project in La Crescent at their September 20 meting.
County engineer Tracey Von Bargem said the project is taking longer than expected, so the contract needs to be amended by about 15 days. He estimated the cost to the county would be $20,000-$25,000.
The Rochester engineering firm of Yaggy Colby Associates is in charge of the operation, Von Bargem said. He said the reasons for the delays are not clear. The general contractor is Road Contractors Inc. of Rochester. It is a joint project with the City of La Crescent.
A concrete flume in the project also needs to be raised in height because it doesnít handle water run-off as anticipated, Von Bargem said. The county will have to pick up some of the additional costs for this, he said. He estimated it at under $20,000, and felt it was a good solution.
In other highway department business:
ï Maintenance supervisor Tom Molling said the department is buying a 2006 Chevrolet Sierra half-ton truck from Nelson Dodge in Fergus Falls for $24,483. It was a budgeted item, so not board vote was required. Molling said the truck was equipped with an E-85 motor, which is 85 percent ethanol.
ï The board approved grants from the Minnesota Department of Transportation for two bridge projects. The grant for the bridge on County Road 249 over Crooked Creek is $46,042.40. The County Road 24 bridge over Benson Creek has a grant for $89,635.
Von Bargem told The Argus on September 21 that bridge work would start on the County Road 24 project in 2-3 weeks. They are hauling in fill now, and the road, which is being realigned, is open, he said.
The County Road 249 project, just west of Little Miami Restaurant, will have a bypass put in this week, then the old bridge will be taken out, Von Bargem said. All the work in the water has to be done by October 1 because Crooked Creek is a trout stream, he added. There will be no detour on this project either.
Other business
Also at the meeting:
ï Zoning administrator Bob Scanlan informed the board that the county board of adjustment had approved a variance for Todd and Patty Olerud. The variance is for 12 feet to meet the required 130-foot setback for a building from a state highway.
The board of adjustment meeting date has been changed to the second Thursday of the month, Scanlan said. Board members are Garland Moe, Caledonia; Norman Oseth, Caledonia; and Tim Orr, Houston. Alternate is Glenn Meiners, Caledonia..
ï Public health director Linda Grupa and dental program administrator Darla Zahn told the board that they were waiting to hear from the University of Minnesota on renewing the Clinical Dental Education Innovations Grant which Zahn administers in Houston, Fillmore, and Winona Counties. The two year grant from the Minnesota Department of Health for $114,000 ends in 2006.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com