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Commissioners approve Great River Energy pole relocation for County Road 2 reconstruction
Summary
The board approved a Great River Energy agreement to relocate an H‑style transmission pole for a County Road 2 reconstruction project; the county expects utility relocation costs on the project to exceed $4 million overall.
The Stearns County Board of Commissioners voted June 24 to approve a transmission pole relocation agreement with Great River Energy needed for a County Road 2 reconstruction project south of Cold Spring.
Public Works Supervisor Jodi Taich told the board the project (SP 70360250) widens the road right-of-way and requires moving at least one Great River Energy H-style transmission pole that would otherwise sit within the roadway shoulder and recovery area near County Road 165. Taich provided the estimate for this individual pole relocation at $242,839.82 and said utility relocation expenses for the overall road project have now risen above $4 million.
Taich noted past agreements with Xcel Energy and Great River Energy and said relocation costs must be paid; the county cannot solicit alternate vendors for utility relocation under the terms with the utilities. Commissioners discussed the costs and Great River Energy’s cooperative structure; one commissioner observed that Great River Energy’s mission is to recover costs for its membership of cooperative utilities.
A motion to approve the relocation agreement was made and seconded; the board approved the motion by voice vote.
Taich also presented the county’s updated five‑year road improvement program later in the meeting (separate action).
