The Polk County Commissioners met on Tuesday at the Polk County Government Center.
POLK COUNTY HIGHWAY PROPOSES FOUR BIDS FOR CURRENT PROJECTS
The meeting began with Polk County Engineer Richard Sanders seeking approval to award bids for projects. The board approved the lowest bid regarding the Bituminous Overlay on County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 14 and 45. “Polk County led bids for overlays on CSAH 45,” said Sanders, “From Trunk Highway 220 and Trunk Highway 75, and CSAH 14 from CSAH 75 north to CSAH Trunk 75.” The bid was ultimately awarded to Knife River Materials out of Bemidji in the amount of $1,781,156.
The next bid reviewed was regarding the CSAH 8 (located in McIntosh) and CSAH 105 (Erskine) mill and overlay. The bids for this project opened up on February 23, and the project included the overlay through the north limits of McIntosh. The board approved the award of the bid to Agassiz Asphalt LLC, out of Newfolden, Minnesota, in the amount of $276,681.
The third contract the commissioners approved was regarding the yearly gravel road stabilization. This year, the stabilization will be geared toward CSAH 35, which is located north of McIntosh and east of the county line. The bid was awarded to Thygeson Construction out of Thief River Falls in the amount of $539,600. “What we do with the stabilization is the contractor hauls out four inches of gravel,” said Sanders, “And we add the chemical base to the gravel and mix it like concrete. We then end up with a stabilized road so it doesn’t get muddy and sloppy during the spring. This gives the residents a nicer road to drive on, but it is not a paved road.”
The commissioners approved the final bid for the bituminous crack route and seal project. Each year, after the Highway Department overlays a road, they anticipate cracks to reappear in the streets. Sanders explained that after the project is completed they revisit the road after two years and hire a contractor to fill the road with rubber crack fill. The bid was ultimately awarded to Aztec Asphalt Technologies.
COMMISSIONERS APPROVE WEST CENTRAL REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT ESTABLISHMENT
Polk County has allocated American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to get a water line from North Dakota to Climax. The money will also be used to upsize the pipe, which will allow more possible crossings on the North Dakota and Minnesota border. “The plan is to create a couple more crossings,” said Polk County Administrator Chuck Whiting, “Down south in Norman County, Clay County, and it will depend on what the district itself can cash flow and develop.” The water district is currently searching for state bonds to help mitigate the cost of this procedure.
Whiting believes this will increase the water quality for residents within these counties because the water will come from an actual service rather than individual water wells.
The commissioners reviewed the resolution to approve the establishment of the West Central Regional Water District and the commencement of water system establishment proceedings. The board approved the authorization to move ahead with the formation of the water district, and the planning of the formation has taken nearly three years. “The attorney representing Polk, Norman, and Clay counties,” said Whiting, “Will take this resolution to the district court. Clay (County) will begin the district’s legal process.”
Once each county approves the resolution along with the district court, the West Central Regional Water District will become its own entity. The district will ultimately serve the south and east portions of Polk County and the entirety of Norman and Clay County.
The consent agenda included the approval of minutes from the February 20 meeting. It also had the approval of bills and disbursements in the amount of $834.42. The Polk County Commissioners will meet again on Tuesday, March 12, at the Polk County Government Center.
