Benton County awards multiple road contracts, hears contractor request for extra days on Gilman project

Benton County commissioners approved several public-works actions during the meeting: a federally funded pavement-marking contract, a county-city reconstruction contract contingent on the City of Gilman—oncurrence, an administrative cost-sharing agreement with Sauk Rapids and a special-road-use permit for Gilman Days. Separately, a prime contractor for the Conroe (Highway) project requested additional contract days because saturated soils and repeated rain have limited production.

Federal pavement-marking contract

County staff recommended and the board approved a construction contract with Century Traffic LLC to install permanent pavement markings, edge lines and a rumble strip; staff said the project turned from an anticipated 90 percent federal/10 percent local match to 100 percent federally funded. The contract amount awarded was $48,418. Commissioners recorded ayes to approve the award.

Gilman reconstruction contract (contingent)

Bids opened for a reconstruction project in the City of Gilman produced a low responsible bid from RL Larson Excavating LLC. County staff reported the total project low bid at $3,266,382.64 (county + city portions), which was considerably under engineer estimates; the county-only portion low bid was $2,687,885.80. The board voted to award the construction contract to RL Larson Excavating LLC contingent upon concurrence by the City of Gilman (the city scheduled a special council meeting to review the bids). The county noted the city portion of the project came in far below the city engineer—stimate and staff asked the city to review the quantities.

Administrative agreement with Sauk Rapids

The board approved an administrative agreement with the City of Sauk Rapids for a roundabout project at CSAH 29 and CSAH 1. The agreement clarifies that the city will reimburse the county for its water/sewer costs and for right-of-way costs inside city limits; the county will front payments to the contractor and the city will reimburse within 21 days.

Special-road-use permit for Gilman Days

The board approved a special-road-use permit for the City of Gilman to close county roads for the Gilman Days parade. County staff told the board the low bidder for the reconstruction project expected not to start work until after the parade (contractor said start likely the Monday following the event), but the permit gives the city flexibility; the county suggested the city coordinate with the contractor and make a decision by July 15 whether to hold the parade.

Conroe project: contractor request for extension

Representatives for Hellman Construction requested a time extension on a county road contract (the Conroe project). Katie Novak of Hellman and prime contractor representatives said high soil saturation and rain have reduced productive working days; Novak described an original allocation of 78 working days for a subcontractor (Briskie Excavating), and said the subcontractor had lost 25 days of production to moisture. Hellman requested a total of 35 additional days past the August 1 completion date (including a 10-day allowance to dry/farm clay) and noted they did not ask for more days than they could document. County staff said they are reviewing the revised schedules and production documentation and had not yet issued a formal written response; staff noted liquidated damages of $3,000 per day apply after the contract completion date.

Why it matters

The awarded contracts start formal procurement steps for multiple road and safety projects; the Gilman contract is contingent on the city—oncurrence and scheduling around community events. The contractor request highlights schedule risk from weather and the county—alance between holding contractors to completion dates and recognizing production loss from unusually wet conditions.