June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
County to serve as project manager for pedestrian trail under 200/371 in Walker
The board authorized Enblom to contract with WSB & Associates Inc. for engineering services at a price not to exceed $210,212. Also authorized is up to $18,340 to conduct a federally funded environmental process if a federal grant can be obtained for that.
Separately, the board endorsed the city of Lake Shore's use of public funds if Minnesota DNR grants can be obtained to design a recreational trail adjacent to CSAH 77.
Pedestrian tunnel project
The board approved an agreement with the city of Walker to serve as project manager for installation of a pedestrian tunnel under Highway 371/200 in that city, the final phase of a recreational trail connecting the Paul Bunyan Trail with the city.
The agreement stipulates that the city will repay the county for its services. The tunnel is scheduled for 2014 construction.
Inguadona Town Board Chairman Chuck Senst appeared before the board to explain road maintenance problems the township has had because of the poor condition of an old bridge on County Road 129 over Laura Brook east of Longville.
The board added the bridge on County Road 129 to the county's bridge replacement needs list after Enblom said the bridge is rated at only 68.8 on a scale of 1 (best) to 100 (poorest). This means it will become one of four priority replacement bridges on county roads when state funds become available.
The current state bridge fund has been expended, he said. No new bridge funds will be available to counties until the Legislature approves more bridge replacement money.
When there is money in that state fund, the state pays 90 percent of bridge replacement costs, while the county pays 10 percent.
Commissioners Dick Downham and Jim Dowson viewed since the last board meeting a road west of Bena that five property owners have petitioned to have vacated near Portage Lake. Based on the commissioners' recommendation to vacate it, the board set a public hearing during the Nov. 5 regular board meeting at the courthouse in Walker to receive comment before the board acts on the petition.
Enblom obtained board approval to sell the county's old ditch mower to Thunder Lake Township for $25,000. The price is based on an appraisal by Ziegler Inc.
Cass County purchased a new mower earlier this year.
Tuesday, the commissioners approved a grade rating for a new assistant shop/field manager position in the highway department.
They also approved market rate grade adjustments, increasing each one or two grade levels based on a comparison with what neighboring counties pay employees doing the same work.
Those receiving market rate adjustments will be the highway maintenance foreman, motor grader equipment operator, shop/field manager, senior engineering technician and engineering technician.
All Cass County employee positions are paid based on the responsibilities required execute their work. Each position is given a grade based on their responsibilities. The county uses a personnel consultant to determine those grades.
Positions are eligible for consideration or reconsideration when responsibilities change for a job, a new position is created or a job appears to be paid below that of eight neighboring counties.
Second publication rights after Brainerd Dispatch.
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