Beltrami commissioners relay Taylor Township calcium-chloride discussion; county engineer to provide cost options

Commissioner Sumner and other Beltrami County commissioners said they attended Taylor Township and Hines Township meetings about dust-control options, including use of calcium chloride on county roads, and that they have referred technical questions to the county engineer.

Sumner told the board she attended the Taylor Township meeting about calcium chloride on county roads and that she forwarded information from the meeting to the county engineer so the township can evaluate options. Sumner said she thought the meeting “was a good meeting” and that it provided information she sent on to county staff.

Nut graf: Township officials and some county commissioners are weighing dust-control treatments for unpaved roads. County staff will return numbers and technical details so township boards can make informed choices ahead of their annual meetings next March.

Chair (unnamed) told the commissioners there is time to gather figures because “obviously things are done for this year” and the township’s annual meeting typically falls next March. The chair said the county will supply cost comparisons and options to help the township choose a treatment method.

Commissioner Carlson and others said they also attended township meetings and described follow-up steps: county staff will supply numbers and data to the township, and no county action or vote was taken at the board meeting on dust-control policy. Commissioners framed the discussion as intergovernmental coordination rather than a county-wide policy change.

Ending: County staff were directed to gather and share engineering and cost information with Taylor Township; township officials are expected to make decisions at their annual meeting next March. The meeting record shows the item was a report and staff-direction step, not a formal county policy vote.