NEW ULM — Brown County Commissioners will consider quotes for tree debris removal on CSAH 3 over the Cottonwood River on Tuesday, June 23.

Excessive rain in 2019 caused many trees to wash into the Cottonwood River before they snagged on the CSAH 3 bridge piers south of Springfield. The river receded enough to see all the debris.

Quote requests to remove debris were sent to 14 contractors. Quotes were received from Mathiowetz Construction Co., $13,450; South State Logging Company $22,800; and Everstrong Construction $29,987.

The county highway department recommends the low quote. Debris removal is part of a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) reimbursement request.

Commissioners will also:

• Decide whether to continue free Heartland Express bus fares through July 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. Fares have been suspended since April 8 in an effort to give residents access to essential services and due to germ concerns with handling tokens between riders, drivers and counters.

In addition, Brown County Human Services received notice that the federal government was going to cover rural transit operating costs through February 2021. Free rides were approved by commissioners through June 30, 2020.

Bus ridership slowly increased from June 7-13 as more businesses opened. Some token handling concerns exist but as more businesses open, rides are being provided for free to non-essential services like salons.

Free rides need to be offered for all rides to all people or not at all, according to the request.

• Consider a Hermann plaque donation from George Glotzbach of New Ulm to be displayed in a county building.

• The meeting begins at 9 a.m., June 23 in the Brown County Law Enforcement Center Training Room. Webex access is available by contacting Brown County Administration at 507-233-6600.