McLeod County approves park and fairgrounds purchases, demolition bids and grant match for native-prairie project

McLeod County commissioners on May 6, 2025 approved multiple parks, highway and fairgrounds items: final acceptance of a 2025 route-and-seal project payment, purchase approvals for message boards and a trailer, award of an east parking-lot aggregate surfacing contract at the fairgrounds, authorization to solicit demolition bids for two park houses, approval of a Conservation Partners legacy grant match for native-prairie restoration at Lake Marion Park, and acceptance of estimates for insurance-covered repairs at the fairgrounds.

Public Works recommended final acceptance and payment of $2,382.93 to CAMCO Inc. of Dassel for county project 25000005 (the 2025 route-and-seal project). The board approved purchasing two Verimac portable changeable message boards from Street Smart Rentals LLC of Columbus, Minnesota at a state-contract equipment price of $41,540 (plus taxes) using funds from the highway equipment maintenance budget; staff said message boards are used to notify motorists of upcoming construction and event traffic and would replace recurring rental costs.

Parks staff sought and received approval to buy a 16-foot aluminum trailer from Brinkman’s Inc. of Donut [sic], Minnesota for $7,126.03 (including tax and registration) to replace a 10-foot trailer. The board awarded project FG117025008 — Fairgrounds East parking lot aggregate surfacing — to Hansen Gravel Inc. of Hutchinson for $18,910 from the fairgrounds budget; the engineer’s estimate was $38,125.

The board authorized solicitation of bids for demolition of houses at Lake Marion Park and Pupenburg Park after prior attempts to sell and relocate the structures produced no offers over a three-week advertising period.

Parks and Soil & Water presented a Conservation Partners legacy grant that was awarded $50,000 with a 10% match requirement. County staff requested and the board approved a 10% match payment of $7,629 from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to Prairie Restorations Inc. for establishment of 7.5 acres of native prairie at Lake Marion Park. The packet described a multi-year contract with Prairie Restorations to convert and maintain the prairie, and staff said the conversion will eliminate annual mowing on that acreage.

Separately, staff recommended acceptance of estimates from Rice Companies of Minca, Minnesota to complete post-storm repairs at the fairgrounds at a cost not to exceed $103,807.66, noting the county received $115,931 from Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust for the claim (less recoverable depreciation) and that the county’s out-of-pocket exposure is the $1,000 deductible. The board approved the estimate selection. The board also approved an amendment to the county’s hosted services agreement with Nuvera Communications Inc. to add two wireless access points at Century Hall at an additional $432 per year from the fairgrounds budget.

During discussion commissioners noted the widening gap between engineer estimates and contractor bids on multiple projects and emphasized competitive bidding. Staff said some lower bids were available because they reused bid prices from other projects. The approved purchases and contracts will be implemented from the stated departmental budgets and ARPA funding where noted.