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County accepts CD79 improvement, authorizes final payment after engineer’s recommendation
Summary
The county accepted the engineer’s final acceptance report for County Ditch 79 on Aug. 5, found the contractor had satisfactorily completed work, approved final payment and began warranty periods; the engineer reported final project costs of about $568,134 versus a FER estimate of $572,732.
Blue Earth County’s drainage authority accepted the engineer’s final acceptance report for County Ditch Number 79 at a hearing on Aug. 5 and approved issuing final payment to the contractor after engineers said the work met plans and specifications.
Jacob Mueller of ISG, the project engineer, told the board the project was bid in May 2024, awarded to GM Contracting Inc., and that most construction occurred between Oct. 15, 2024, and March 28, 2025. He said the project was substantially complete on Dec. 6, 2024, and final televising and punch‑list work extended into March 2025 to allow seasonal regrading.
“It is the engineer’s opinion that the contractor GM Contracting has satisfactorily completed the contract in accordance with plan specifications, and that we would recommend accepting this work and approval of final payment to the contractor,” Mueller said.
Mueller reported that the final project cost to date is about $568,134, a modest savings from the FER estimate of $572,732. He said damages measured at 28.33 acres versus an FER estimate of 27.54 acres and that all private and public tile connection locations are recorded with GPS and shared with county drainage staff. GM had submitted required closeout documents, including a final pay request, an IC‑134, a three‑year warranty bond and consent of surety.
The board voted to accept the engineer’s report and authorize final payment; the motion carried by voice vote.
Why this matters: acceptance closes the formal construction phase, requires the county to release final payment, records measured damages for compensation and triggers warranty protections for tile and open ditch work.
Next steps: staff will issue final payment, record as‑built data for future inspections and begin warranty monitoring.
