NEW ULM — Brown County commissioners unanimously approved four partial, open ditch clean-outs to low bidders Tuesday.

A $29,243.20 contact for County Ditch 28, Mulligan Township, was awarded to Sandgren Trucking & Excavating, Franklin, motion by Commissioner Brian Braun, seconded by Tony Berg.

Several landowners requested to have 29,840 feet cleaned out. Quotes were requested from nine contractors. Projects are to be completed by Dec. 28, 2024.

Other bids were Walters Excavating, $32,824; Rickert Excavating $35,808; and Hillmann Backhoe & Tiling, $50,131.20.

An $8,208 bid for Judicial Ditch (JD) 29 Brown/Redwood, Eden Township, was awarded to Sandgren Trucking & Excavating, motion by Commissioner Berg, seconded by Braun.

Landowners requested an 8,550 feet cleanout. Other bids were Rickert Excavating $11,970 and Hillmann Backhoe & Tiling $12,312.

A $30,075 bid for JD 5, Watonwan, Albin Township and Nelson Township, Watonwan County, was awarded to Walters Excavating, New Ulm, motion by Commissioner Braun, seconded by Berg.

Landowners requested a 30,075 feet clean-out. Other bids were Rickert Excavating $36,090 and Hillmann Backhoe & Tiling $46.315.50.

Brown County board action in 2023 rejected a single $51,376.50 bid and to rebid the project.

“This is a huge ($21,301.50) savings to landowners,” said Commissioner Braun.

A $45,625 bid for JD 14, Brown/Watonwan, Linden and Madelia Townships, was awarded to Walters Excavating, motion by Commissioner Dave Borchert, seconded by Scott Windschitl.

Landowners reqeusted a 45,625 feet clean-out. Other bids were Rickert Excavating $54,750 and Hillmann Backhoe & Tiling $78,931.25.

Commissioners unanimously approved a $280 per acre drainage ditch tree, brush and weed control quote by L&M Road Services for ground spraying, motion by Commissioner Braun, seconded by Windschitl.

All drainage systems with open ditches were quoted for ground spraying. They have buffers. Applicators spot spray buffers and ditch slopes. Bills are based on gallons of herbicide used at the prescribed rate per acre to calculate acres sprayed. DeAngelo Contracting Services bid $292.50 per acre.

Last year, 626 acres were sprayed at $280 per acre. Past ground spraying rates were $285 an acre in 2022, $305 in 2021, $315 in 2020, $320 in 2019 and $349.98 in 2018.