Dunn County approves $45,900 wetland mitigation and cultural monitoring for road project

Dunn County commissioners voted to buy wetland mitigation credits and hire cultural monitoring after the county received a 404 permit with conditions from the Army Corps for the Twelfth Street SW/Hundredth Avenue project.

Carl, the county engineer, told commissioners: “I did receive that this morning, and it is, in fact, $85,000 per acre. So the total amount for the project would be $45,900.” The Army Corps required 0.54 acres of wetland mitigation via a mitigation bank; the county requested a Ducks Unlimited credit availability letter before committing to the purchase.

Commissioners also discussed cultural-resource conditions from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Carl said SHPO “want the sites to be fenced off during the construction” and “would also request cultural monitoring during the work in the vicinity of those sites.” He estimated monitoring would take roughly a week and cost about $10,000; commissioners authorized staff to contract for monitoring services.

Motion and vote: Commissioner Heizer moved to approve the wetland mitigation payment of $45,900; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. Commissioners then moved to authorize cultural monitoring and to proceed with invoicing for mitigation credits.

County staff said they will proceed with purchasing the mitigation credits, hire a cultural monitor (likely a local firm), and include the mitigation/invoicing in project accounting. The engineer said easement work and bid scheduling for the larger project will continue once permit conditions are addressed.

The county did not identify a specific monitoring contractor at the meeting; the engineer said he would solicit quotes and return the invoicing to the county for payment.