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Johnson County approves NDOT-funded safety projects, engineering contracts after debate over environmental fees
Summary
The Johnson County Board of Commissioners ratified a local public agency agreement with the state and approved three engineering contracts for two intersection warning systems and a countywide sign replacement project. Commissioners questioned environmental and historic-properties fees required under the state review process.
The Johnson County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 24 ratified a Local Public Agency (LPA) agreement tied to a Community Crossings Matching Grant and approved engineering contracts for two intersection conflict-warning systems and a regulatory-sign replacement project.
The measures authorize Corradino LLC to design warning systems at Old 31 and County Road 250 South ($41,750) and at 300 West and 625 South ($35,000), and approve Strand Associates to design replacement regulatory and warning signs in parts of Union Township and all of Hensley and Nineveh townships ($106,000). The board has previously awarded construction for a related bid to Howard Companies at about $2,200,000; the state will cover roughly 50% of construction costs under the NDOT agreement, county staff said.
Why it matters: the contracts fund safety upgrades on county roads with state cost-share, but raised questions from commissioners about federally and state-mandated environmental and historic-property reviews that add to consultant fees. Commissioners framed the inspections as requirements tied to accepting state or federal dollars.
Highway engineer Daniel Johnston described the LPA item and the three contracts and said the projects will begin this summer. "The first item is requesting your ratification of that NDOT LPA agreement for our Community Crossings award that we were awarded last fall. The project will be kicking off this summer," Johnston said.
One commissioner questioned the need for environmental and historic-properties work on relatively small, non‑construction installations. "I couldn't help but notice... $5,300 for environmental services and $6,750 for historical properties report. It sounds like wasteful money to me," the commissioner said. Johnston replied that the state and federal review steps apply when outside funding is used and that the environmental and historic reports determine whether adjacent properties require additional steps. "That's the purpose of those fees for the environmental services," Johnston said.
The board voted to approve the LPA ratification and the three engineering contracts in a single action. Commissioners recorded no named mover or seconder on the audio, and the meeting minutes reflect the motion and subsequent approval.
Clarifying details captured during discussion include the planned design fees and the statement that NDOT reviewed and approved all three engineering contracts. Commissioners also noted that the construction bid awarded to Howard Companies was "a little under $2,200,000," with the state share at 50 percent.
The projects are scheduled to move from design to construction this year, beginning with design work and required state reviews. The board did not set additional follow-up tasks in the discussion recorded in the transcript.
