County road updates: multiple projects advance, SHPO cultural review delays 90 Ninth, utilities relocation and permit motions approved

Dunn County road and engineering staff gave commissioners a multi-topic briefing on construction, design and permitting activity across the county and the commission approved several project-related actions.

Road supervisors and consultants reported that Bronco Brothers and other contractors have advanced multiple paving and grading projects, but that the 90 Ninth/90 First corridor remains delayed by cultural-resource concerns. County engineer staff said the Army Corps of Engineers and the State Historical Society (SHPO) have raised objections at a site identified by archaeologists as a Knife River Flint quarry; staff said they are arranging a special meeting with the Army Corps, SHPO and consultant Wade Burns (Beavercreek) to resolve the process and next steps. "That project has been delayed, but at least we're going to have the meeting set up perhaps next week," an engineering representative said.

Project issues and design choices: staff described higher-than-expected excavation/waste estimates on Fourteenth Street SW after grade changes increased excess dirt; commissioners asked for monitoring of waste volumes and reuse options with landowners. For a partially completed project on First Avenue, staff said a redesign to reduce design speed (for example from a 45-mph to a 25–30-mph design) may allow finishing the remaining half-mile while avoiding intrusive archaeological testing that could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Commission actions taken during the meeting included: - Approval of Pay Estimate No. 2 to Baranco Brothers for the Hundred And Fifth Avenue project in the amount of $90,044.16 (motion carried by roll call). - Approval of two utility permits: a Midnight Midstream Bakken permit for a 5-inch fiber/transmission line and a Southwest Water crossing for Brody Candrian (both approved on motion). - Approval of a relocation agreement with McKinsey Electric for moving poles on 119th Avenue and Second Street SW at a cost of $215,000; the commission approved the relocation and noted the cost will be charged to the associated road project.

Staff also gave updates on preconstruction, bid scheduling (several projects have tentative July/August bid openings) and easement acquisition work; engineering staff said cultural permitting and wetland delineations are in progress for multiple 2026 projects and that the county is coordinating with landowners and power companies on specific relocations.

Why it matters: cultural-resource requirements can add significant cost and delay to road construction; staff and commissioners emphasized balancing project design, cost and preservation obligations. Utility relocations and permit approvals move planned projects forward but can change project budgets.

Next steps and follow-ups: staff will hold the special SHPO/Army Corps meeting to clarify testing requirements on the 90 Ninth/90 First project, continue easement acquisition for other projects, and track waste-soil accounting on Fourteenth Street; county staff will notify the commission if any utility-relocation invoices exceed the amounts previously discussed.

Speakers quoted in this article are county engineering and road staff appearing in the meeting record; direct quotations are attributed to those speakers.