Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ramsey County approves multiple highway invoices and moves ahead on truck‑route and bridge grant proposals
Summary
The commission approved several highway invoices totaling about $144,425, authorized county staff to sign flex‑fund letters of understanding, and approved grant planning and applications for truck‑route improvements; a nearby bridge is a semifinalist for a state removal grant.
The Ramsey County Commission approved payments for several road and construction invoices and authorized staff to pursue multiple transportation grants.
Highway director Jason presented invoices and asked the commission to approve payment for the KLJ Construction engineering invoice for $45,775.20 related to an 80 Ninth Avenue parking/road project; Tri State Paving’s $32,493 invoice for asphalt patching and overlays; Gleason Construction’s $55,850 invoice for a new salt storage structure; and 448.15 tons of Class 41 material from Morris Silko at $23 per ton, $10,307.45. The commission approved each invoice by motion and roll call.
Commissioners praised Tri State Paving’s work after several residents called to compliment the patching. Jason said the salt shed construction is complete and the 80 Ninth Avenue project is nearing final grading.
On grants, county staff reported Bridge 36‑101‑20 — the concrete structure south of Church’s Ferry — is a semifinalist in the state’s GRAMA flex‑fund program for a removal project. Staff explained that, if the county accepts construction funding from the state program, the county’s share would be limited to preliminary costs (the flex fund would pay construction and construction engineering), and the county’s current local share for bridge inspection is roughly $3,000.
The commission authorized the county auditor to sign letters of understanding for flex‑fund applications and voted to proceed with grant writing for truck‑route improvements. Jason and Paul (county engineer) said the west truck‑route work would be entered for available statewide funds (staff estimated roughly $40 million available statewide) and that the east‑side truck‑route realignment would begin with a planning study (estimated planning‑level study under $250,000) that could later be phased into construction. The commission approved both pursuing grant options.
The commission also approved an auctioneer contract (5% commission) and advertising to conduct the county surplus auction and authorized out‑of‑state travel for highway staff to attend training.
No construction funding commitments beyond preliminary costs were approved at the meeting; staff emphasized that construction would require future approvals and local match if necessary.
