Brown County Assistant Highway Engineer Andrew Lang stands on the County Road 13 Bridge overlooking a build-up of tree debris. The Brown County Commissioners chose to move forward with a debris removal project rather than wait for the problem to worsen.

NEW ULM – Brown County Commissioners chose to remove tree debris from County State Aid Highway 13 bridge sooner rather than later, Tuesday.

Highway Engineer Wayne Stevens gave a report on the flood tree debris that had built up against the County Road 13 bridge. He said June rains washed a lot of trees into the Cottonwood River and many have become snagged on the Country Road 13 bridge. The county requested quotes from nine companies to remove the debris, but received only a single bid from Mathiowetz Construction for $195,375.

Stevens said part of the reason for the high cost is Mathiowetz will need need to haul in 1,000 tons of riprap to build a road into the river. This will allow the crew to safely get an excavator to the debris and drag it to the shore. Mathiowetz Construction estimated it will take more than 55 loads to remove the debris.

“Part of the reason we can’t do it from the top of the bridge is the load rating of that bridge,” Stevens said. None of the contractors asked to do the project were willing to remove the debris from a boat.

Stevens met with federal highway and Minnesota Department of Transportation officials and it was confirmed the project would qualify for a Federal Highway Emergency Operation Grant. It is uncertain how much of the cost will covered by the program. Stevens said at least 80% would be covered by the program, but it could be as much as 100%.

In order to qualify for the project, the county has 270 days from June 1 to complete the project. Stevens said they wanted the debris removed in mid-August but Mathiowetz Construction cannot start until October.

Commissioner David Borchert asked what kind of pressure debris is adding to the bridge.

Stevens said the worst of the pressure on the bridge is over with most of the debris resting on the bottom of the river and the water is going around it.

Commissioner Anton Berg asked if there was time to rebid the project?

Stevens said even with the water pressure down, he did not think it was good to have debris piled up against the bridge. He was also was concerned that if the debris is not removed by next spring, ice breakups could create further blockage and put more pressure on the bridge.

Borchert believed it was likely there could be further spring flooding.

Commissioner Scott Windschitl believed the bridge could still be in danger this year if there was another rain event.

Based on the urgency of the project, Commissioner Brian Braun made the motion to approved the bid for debris removal with a second from Borchert. The motion was unanimously accepted.