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Dunn County approves multiple road payments, buys wetland credits and awards grading bid
Summary
The Dunn County Commission approved contractor pay estimates, purchased wetland mitigation credits required by Corps permits, abandoned one planned street project in favor of another and awarded a $1.48 million grading contract after a bid opening.
The Dunn County Commission on May 13 approved several road-construction payments, bought wetland mitigation credits tied to Corps of Engineers permits, abandoned a planned Sixteenth Street project and awarded a grading contract to the low bidder.
County road staff and commissioners said the actions keep a slate of local street and county-road projects moving while the department completes easements, environmental reviews and final field surveys. Road Department staff recommended payments to contractors and changes to the project list to reflect landowner support and engineering constraints.
The commission approved pay estimate No. 3 for the 100th Avenue NW project, a payment of $244,553.54 to Bronco Brothers. “They have finished the grading and aggregate placing for the project,” Road Department staff said when presenting the estimate; the board approved the payment by roll call.
County staff told the commission they will abandon construction of Sixteenth Street from 90 Fourth to the planned terminus after landowners and the superintendent recommended dropping the project because of low local support and heavy flood-control work already required. Commissioners voted to move instead on Fourteenth Street from 90 Fourth toward 90 Eighth/90 Ninth Avenue after landowners identified that alignment as more useful for heavy truck traffic from nearby scoria pits.
The commission approved pay estimate No. 1 for the Fourteenth Street Southwest construction to Schwartz Construction for $205,259.61, and separately approved pay estimate No. 1 on the 100th and Fifth Avenue project in the amount of $134,245.95 to Bronco Brothers.
When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued jurisdictional determinations requiring wetland mitigation, county staff recommended buying mitigation credits. The commission approved purchase of credits for two segments of Seventh Street — a 0.4-acre parcel at $34,000 and a 0.6-acre parcel at $56,000 — to satisfy mitigation obligations.
At the meeting’s bid opening and tabulation for grading project CP‑13 (frenzy 2203), Jensen Brothers submitted the low bid of $1,484,964.50. County staff recommended awarding the contract to Jensen Brothers despite noting Jensen had been late on prior county projects; staff said bonding and liquidated-damage provisions were in place to protect the county. The commission voted to award the contract to Jensen Brothers.
Commissioners and staff repeatedly described schedule and permitting risk: cultural surveys delayed some projects after recent rains, mitigation-credit purchases were required where Corps jurisdiction was found, and bid awards carry bonds and liquidated damages if contractors miss completion dates. Commissioners asked staff to keep coordinating easement acquisition and utility relocations ahead of construction.
Outlook: Road staff said they will continue final field surveys, file permits and set bid dates as easements and environmental reviews clear, and will bring follow-up actions and pay estimates to future meetings.
