NEW ULM — Brown County commissioners unanimously accepted a quarter corner (half-mile point of mile section) certification proposal Tuesday.

Action came on a motion by Commissioner Scott Windschitl, seconded by Brian Braun to accept a $244,650 bid by Bolton & Menk of Mankato to certify with GPS coordinates 238 quarter corners in Bashaw, Mulligan, Leavenworth and Prairieville Townships. Madsen Land Surveying of Fairmont bid $265,200 for the project.

There are many highway county highway projects in the 10-year program within those townships that would benefit form certified quarter corners.

Brown County hired a licensed land surveyor to certify county section corners over several projects almost 10 years ago. Quarter corners (that divide sections in half) were not certified with the project. Some quarter corners have been certified as landowners survey their properties.

There are 1,003 corners certified with GPS coordinates, 192 certified but with no GPS coordinates, 819 without certification and 15 certified with GPS coordinates.

The State Public Land Survey System Monument Grant Program is accepting proposals for projects to restore, maintain and/or update corners pursuant to Minn. Stat. 381.12. This does not include center section quarter corners.

A letter of intent was submitted and accepted. Grants will be selected April 30. Projects must be completed by March 31, 2026. Sixty-five counties submitted letters of intent for a total request of more than $16 million.