Stevens County board approves culvert repair bid, two parking‑lot projects and written per‑diem policy

The Stevens County Board of Commissioners on June 25 approved multiple construction contracts and adopted a written per‑diem policy clarifying when commissioners may claim daily pay.

The board awarded a culvert excavation contract, approved two parking‑lot repair projects (one with the DAC splitting costs), adopted changes to per‑diem rules that limit multiple payments in a single day and add a canvassing‑board exclusion, and approved the meeting agenda and minutes. All motions passed on voice votes; roll‑call tallies were not specified in the meeting record.

Why it matters: The contracts and policy changes affect county roadway maintenance budgets, facility upkeep and how commissioners are compensated for outside or committee work. The culvert and parking‑lot projects will be paid from county funds and, in the DAC case, partly from the DAC’s share.

Key actions (motions and outcomes)

1) Agenda approval Motion: Accept the agenda as presented. Mover/Second: not specified in transcript. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Referenced in meeting transcript starting at the call for additions to the agenda and approval (see provenance).

2) Minutes approval Motion: Approve the minutes of the 06/12 and 06/17 meetings with one correction. Mover/Second: not specified in transcript. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Referenced in meeting transcript where minutes are read and motioned for approval.

3) Culvert repair/excavation (Coburn replacement) Motion: Approve hiring for excavating for the Coburn replacement (bid submitted). Bid: Shaffer Excavating (Hancock, Minnesota) — $80,800.50 (bid amount read into the record). Mover/Second: not specified in transcript. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Notes: Bid amounts were discussed in the public‑works presentation prior to the motion.

4) Ferguson (maintenance) parking‑lot project Motion: Approve Ferguson (as contractor) for a maintenance parking‑lot project (county share indicated in staff summary). Amount reported in motion: approximately $33,010 (motion read by a commissioner as $33,010). Mover/Second: not specified in transcript. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Notes: County staff said the DAC will pay roughly half of the related DAC lot share; detailed budget lines were in the staff packet.

5) DAC parking‑lot project (Joe Riley Construction) Motion: Approve Joe Riley Construction for the DAC parking‑lot project. Amount: $61,523.50 (as read into the record). Mover/Second: not specified in transcript. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Notes: Staff earlier said the DAC would contribute about $30,761.75 toward its lot; total combined project numbers were discussed in the staff presentation.

6) Per‑diem policy adoption (with canvassing‑board note) Motion: Approve the revised board procedures and per‑diem policy with an explicit canvassing‑board provision (no per diem for canvassing board unless statute allows). Mover/Second: not specified in transcript. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Notes: Staff reviewed state opinion letters and Minnesota statutes during discussion; the policy memorializes per‑diem rules and adds language about canvassing board pay.

What the record shows (vote style) All votes were taken by voice ("All in favor say 'aye'") and recorded as "motion carries." The transcript does not record individual yes/no votes or counts for any motion.

Provenance (transcript excerpts supporting these items) - Agenda approval: transcript lines around the call for additions to the agenda and acceptance (s≈22.45–35.44). - Minutes approval: transcript lines where minutes are read and motioned (s≈35.98–51.55). - Culvert/excavation: staff discussion of bids and bid amounts (Shaffer Excavating $80,800.50) and motion for coburn replacement (s≈535.15–628.64). - Ferguson parking lot: staff summary and motion to approve Ferguson (s≈659.78–837.46). - DAC parking lot (Joe Riley Construction): staff summary and motion to approve (s≈779.60–866.12). - Per‑diem policy: extended staff overview, statute/opinion references, motion to approve with canvassing board language (s≈962.05–2387.18).

Speakers (attributed in the meeting record) - Chair — Board chair (government). First introduced and led the meeting; carried voice votes. - Stephanie ("Steph") — County Administrator (government). Identified in discussion about agenda preparation and per‑diem procedure. - Todd — Public‑works staff member (government). Presented road and facilities updates and bid information. - Mark — Auditor (government). Asked and answered questions about pay dates and claims. - County staff (unspecified) — staff member who read and summarized statutory guidance and opinion‑letter content on per diems (government).

Clarifying details (as stated in the meeting) - Shaffer Excavating bid for the Coburn excavation: $80,800.50 (bid amount read aloud). - Ferguson maintenance lot motion amount read by a commissioner as $33,010 (county share reported in the motion). - Joe Riley Construction DAC lot amount: $61,523.50 (read into the record). - Staff said the DAC would pay approximately $30,761.75 toward one of the parking‑lot projects; total project estimates were described in staff materials. - Per‑diem statutes referenced in discussion: Minnesota Statutes section 375.055 and 375.06 (see authorities list in article metadata).

What was not recorded The transcript does not include roll‑call counts or named vote tallies for any motion. Mover and seconder names were not specified in the audio for most motions and are therefore recorded as "not specified."