NEW ULM - Brown County commissioners approved a five-year road and bridge program Tuesday as well as a resolution providing the option of adding $125,000 in local funds each year to augment state aid money.

The plan focused on maintaining highway surfaces, which usually means overlaying within 20 years of a road's last surfacing. This procedure narrows roads by a foot each time it is done.

When roads are too narrow to overlay, shoulders are widened and regrading is done.

Road project funding in 2010 includes $3,870,000 in regular state aid, $460,000 in municipal state aid plus $160,000 in township money to redo road surfaces rated poor or very poor and replace a bridge.

The roads include parts of County 5, 17 (in Comfrey), 25, 27, 28 and 36.

Commissioner Richard Seeboth questioned spending $500,000 in state aid money on 2.3 miles of County 28 from TH 68 (just south of Evan) to the Redwood County line.

"I don't see why we should spend money on seldom-used roads," Seeboth said.

County Highway Engineer Wayne Stevens said the project was on the list because its PQI (Pavement Quality Index) was listed very poor and its extension in Redwood County was a 10-ton road.

Stevens said Redwood County requested the Brown County road be improved to match its extension.

"We need to fix (paved) roads or put them back to gravel," said Commissioner Jim Berg. "We're getting behind (on road improvements) and it's starting to show."

Commissioner Andy Lochner said local funding should be included, even if it is pulled out of the budget later.

Commissioner Dennis Potter said main county roads need to be maintained.

Stevens added that gravel road maintenance costs are greater than paved road costs.

When asked about the progress on the $2.4 million County Road 11 bridge and approach grading project over the Cottonwood River, Stevens said the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) did not approve some of the bridge beams, so they're being re-cast.

After the board meeting, Stevens said MnDOT did not put inspection stamps on seven of the 6x130-foot concrete bridge beams, so the county rejected them.

"We've got five more (beams) coming in Thursday and another five this Friday," Stevens said.

The recent wet weather isn't helping.

"All the rain isn't good for construction, but we're making progress," said Stevens.

Other Brown County bridges to be replaced in 2010-2014 are on 330th Avenue in Mulligan, 240 Street in Prairieville, 150th Avenue in Cottonwood and 150th Street in Linden townships.

Meanwhile, commissioners learned that Brown County Teen Court will receive the 2009 Minnesota Corrections Association President's Award Oct. 28, at the St. Cloud Civic Center.

The award is given to corrections and criminal justice programs, resources or facilities that demonstrate creativity, resourcefulness, effectiveness and innovation.

In other action, commissioners approved:

Reviewing a draft ordinance regulating parking on County-owned property. A public hearing was set for 11 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Buying 100 more curb side recycling bins as recommended by the Solid Waste Advisory Committee.

Used bins will be bought from Waste Management in Owatonna and Rochester if they can be had for half the new cost, $1,873.71 from T.M. Fitzgerald & Associates.

An Oct. 6, 2009 letter from David Stoering of Courtland asking for reconsideration of the decision not to fund County Extension (agriculture) Educator Wayne Schoper in 2010.