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Humboldt County approves road contracts, change orders and seeks state grant for rumble strips
Summary
Supervisors approved multiple change orders and construction contracts for culvert and shoulder work and unanimously adopted a resolution to apply for state PSIP funding to replace worn rumble strips at locations countywide.
Humboldt County supervisors approved several road contracts and change orders on Tuesday and voted to apply for state safety grant money to replace worn rumble strips on hard-surfaced county roads.
The board approved Change Order No. 1 for the STBG swap Thor box culvert replacement project, reducing a contractor claim from about $15,000 to $9,014 for work tied to an unexpectedly shallow sewer line. "The original proposal was around 15,000, but we didn't end up using any additional material. So the cost was reduced down to $9,014," engineer Ben Lutz said. Lutz said Iowa Wall Sawing was used to notch around the sewer pipe and a few yards of concrete were used to patch the opening; he said the work on that project is fully funded with state money.
Supervisors also approved an extra work order for projects LC102290 and LC171507, described in the meeting as the Virginia Avenue and Bob Nillis box culvert jobs performed by Ragnas Brothers. The county allowed additional working days because of a wet spring and negotiated a $5,000 credit/deduct tied to liquidated damages, the board was told.
The board approved contracts and bonds with Blacktop Service to widen shoulders at multiple sites (project list provided during the meeting) for $183,966.76.
Finally, supervisors passed Resolution 2025-0811 to apply for a PSIP safety grant to update rumble strips at about 80 locations countywide. The resolution passed on roll call: "Sandy? Aye. Bob? Aye. Mike? Aye. Bruce is aye as well," the clerk recorded.
Why it matters: the approved work covers immediate repairs and preventive projects county officials said are needed for safety and to extend pavement life. The rumble-strip grant would replace worn roadside rumble strips installed roughly 15–20 years ago in many locations.
Board procedure and funding: Lutz said culvert backfill often settles after replacement, which can require additional material for road profile restoration. The STBG swap change order is state-funded; the board did not identify additional local funding needs related to the other contracts during the votes.
The board took the measures during its regular session; motions on the change orders and contracts passed with voice votes (recorded as "all in favor, aye") except for the rumble-strip resolution, which was a roll-call vote.
Looking ahead: Lutz said the county will saw out and install an 8-inch concrete pad with rumble strips at targeted locations if the grant is awarded. No effective date was specified for the grant application or awards.
