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NEW ULM -- Brown County commissioners will consider a resolution for an archeological survey for Bridge 2110 on CSAH 8 over the Minnesota River on Tuesday, March 7.
Also known as the Franklin Bridge or Hale Bridge, the last truss bridge in Brown County is structurally deficient with a number of serious issues but is difficult to replace because it is an historical bridge, according to the board request. The 250 feet long and 17 feet wide bridge was closed Aug. 1, 2017 after bridge deficiencies were discovered.
In February 2018, the board decided to accept federal off system funds to pay 80% of eligible costs to replace the bridge. A required historical alternatives analysis is nearly complete.
It has been determined that an archaeological survey needs to be done. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has offered to pay 80% of the survey as it did for the historian contract.
Merjent Inc. has proposed to perform the survey for an estimated cost of $39,388. Brown County would pay 20% of the cost. A resolution approving the project is also needed.
Commissioners will also:
* Consider awarding a contract to the appropriate bidder to replace a steel arch pipe bridge on CSAH 10 over JD 5 B&W about a mile north of the south county line that needs replacement. The bridge replacement has been hydraulically sized to need a 12 feet by eight feet, pre-cast concrete box culvert that is large enough to be labeled a bridge.
Regular State Aid Construction Funds will fund the project scheduled to begin on or before May 18, 2020 and be completed within 20 working days. The highway department recommends the low bid.
* Receive a county public health COVID-19 update and the role of public health in planning and response to help slow the spread of the disease locally, statewide and around the world. Information to be presented includes a situational update, protective recommendations, community mitigation, public health's role and current activities that include incident command.
* Consider a Buffalo Tera-station TeraServer purchase for drone data storage for $1,000 and about $10 per flash drive. Drone flights have been completed on highway projects and drainage systems. Flight data has been recorded on video files.
The file sizes are very large and would tax current network storage space. Intentions are to create a library of each ditch system with historical and present day flights to comply with a five-year inspection cycle of Minnesota drainage statues.
* Consider approving and having the board chairman sign the 2020 DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant Application Resolution. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers funds allowing local governments to update or improve local parks The Planning & Zoning staff proposes to use $175,000 in grant funds to improve Lake Hanska County Park.
The project estimated to cost $366,500 includes upgrading rest facilities to ADA standards, replacing roads and parking lots, improving trails from grass and dirt to crushed rock, installing a retaining wall at the beach head area, adding beach sand and updating play equipment.
If awarded funds, the county would be informed of the awarded amount in June 2020 with a grant agreement in September 2020. The grant would go until June 30, 2022, allowing the parks department to spread the total county cost of $175,000 over 2021 and 2022.
The grant proposed was approved by the county parks commission on March 2, 2020.
* The meeting begins at 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 7 in the Law Enforcement Training Room.
Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.