June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Cass Board accepts bid for CCSAH 77 improvements
Tuesday, July 6 Cass County commissioners accepted the lowest bid of eight submitted. It came from Tom's Backhoe Services Inc. at $5,323,114.14. Lake Shore City Council approved the award earlier.
The project still needs Minnesota Department of Transportation approval, which County Engineer Darrick Anderson said could take about two weeks.
Work will be done in four one-mile stages, Anderson said. It is expected to take two construction seasons to complete.
Engineering estimates for the project ran $6,500,000, about midway between the low bid and the highest bid, which was $7,731,051.79.
The county board approved the final payment Tuesday for tree clearing, which was done this spring along CSAH 77 to avoid a conflict with nesting long eared bats and other wildlife.
Cass Commissioners set three public hearings for the Aug. 1 regular board meeting that begins at 9 a.m. at the courthouse in Walker.
One will be on a proposed new Ordinance for the Management of Public Rights of Way. Another is on a proposal to post "No Parking" signs along CSAH 36 for 100 feet either side of Fisherman's Bridge. The third will be a proposal to abandon an easement on a portion of CSAH 71.
Public comment also will be received on the "No Parking" sign issue during the board's 6 p.m. July 18 regular meeting at Fairview Town Hall, 10219 County 77 SW, Nisswa.
Anderson informed the commissioners Tuesday that people have been parking along the highway edge. There are two nearby parking lots for people who fish from the bridge.
The shoulder along the road is only four feet wide, so parking along it causes a traffic hazard, he said.
Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk asked whether expanding the existing parking lot areas by the bridge might alleviate the problem. Anderson said he would research that possibility.
The proposed right of way ordinance will formalize the county's past practice of requiring a permit when utility companies place underground or overhead lines and pipes in road rights of way.
It will enable the county to develop a GIS mapping system for all lines in the county rights of way, provide for restoration of the rights of way after excavation and refer to the county's fee schedule for any bonds required or amounts the county collects to recover out of pocket costs for staff to process permits the ordinance requires.
A homeowner who plants a garden between their property and the curb along a highway would not be required to get a permit unless they also want to install a sprinkler system.
Utility line permit holders will be required to file by Dec. 1 annually a plan for any construction or major maintenance work planned on their lines. A performance construction bond will be required.
If pavement settles due to work a utility does along a road right of way, the utility will be required to pay for repairing that for 18 months following their work in the area.
A utility would be required to remove any unusable or abandoned lines from the county right of way.
The third hearing on abandoning a small easement area on CSAH 71 (Upper Ten Mile Lake Road) involves a portion of land the county no longer uses after that road was rebuilt a few years ago. Some neighboring easements were abandoned earlier.
Second publication rights after Brainerd Dispatch.[[In-content Ad]]
Comments:
You must login to comment.