Griggs County commissioners back pursuit of fourth road blade as crews struggle to keep up

Griggs County commissioners on Oct. 20 discussed growing wear on county roads, limits of the current three-grader program and authorized staff to pursue buying a used fourth grader to reduce response times and speed gravel and blading work.

County officials and road staff told the commission that each of three county blades currently covers more than 200 miles of roads in some divisions, leaving gaps in service when rain, repairs and heavy harvest traffic increase demand. Road staff described 213 miles in one blade area, 207 miles in another and similar large territories for other blades, and noted that blading frequency has stretched to about six weeks in some areas when weather and equipment downtime occur.

The discussion centered on possible short-term and budget options for obtaining an additional blade before the heavy winter season. Commissioners debated paying from existing line items, using recently paid contractor funds, tapping COVID-era funds or financing the purchase. Staff said the county recently paid Gilbertsons about $99,000 for gravel work and suggested that money could be repurposed toward a grader purchase if the commission approved. The conversation included an option to use prairie-dog (flexible transportation) funds for gravel and to finance or use $27,000 from COVID funds toward the purchase if needed.

Commissioner Zorn made a motion directing staff to verify that a specific used grader (identified on the government auction list) was available at the quoted price and to proceed with purchase arrangements; the motion was seconded and carried. The commission did not commit a purchase at the meeting but approved staff to check availability and report back, and said it would call a special meeting if an emergency purchase were required.

Separately, the commission approved Progressive Estimate No. 3 for the Hannaford pavement project and directed staff to draft the associated reimbursement request for signature. Road staff reported that the Hannaford work was nearing completion — permanent striping, mailboxes and signs were to be finished the week of the meeting, with seeding to follow — and that liquidated damages could be assessed if the contractor missed the striping deadline.

Commissioners and staff also reviewed grant and federal-aid schedules: a federal-aid meeting in Bismarck was set for Oct. 27; a Prairie Dog (flexible transportation) application for Griggs County had been submitted and selections should be known by the end of the year; and the Decker Bridge federal-aid bridge project was scheduled to start in spring, with in-channel work constrained by a fish-spawning window staff estimated ran through June. Staff said that some bridge demolition or work off the channel might be possible sooner, depending on contractor methods and permits.

The morning’s exchange included operational detail: blading productivity (roughly 4–5 miles per hour under normal conditions), the effects of heavy harvest traffic and rain on road condition, the time needed to run a complete rotation with three blades (about six to six-and-a-half weeks under typical conditions), and options discussed to improve packing and longevity of gravel (rollers or packers combined with moisture at time of spreading). Road staff and commissioners said private contractors can help but that private capacity in the area is limited.

The commission asked staff to return with firm price, financing options and delivery/maintenance estimates before a purchase decision. Commissioners signaled they would try to budget for a permanent fourth grader in 2027 if immediate financing was not feasible.

Ending: Commissioners did not finalize a purchase at the Oct. 20 meeting but carried a motion to check availability and price of a used grader and to return with figures; they approved ongoing construction closeouts and federal-aid scheduling items and asked staff to follow up before winter.