Isanti County approves highway contracts, IT fees and park projects; tethered-drone grant tabled, tariff meeting set

Isanti County commissioners on May 20 approved a slate of routine and capital items — including two highway contracts that together total about $1.9 million and a state-funded pavement-marking contract — authorized technology and park purchases, and voted to table a federal tethered-unmanned aerial system grant over concerns about uncertain federal reimbursement.

The actions, taken during a regularly scheduled county-board meeting at the Isanti County Government Center, included awarding contracts to Knife River Corporation North Central for pavement preservation and establishing patch-unit prices, approving a $103,170 annual Tyler Technologies SAS fee tied to the county—s planned software migration, and multiple park and planning-board plats and improvements. Commissioners also set a committee-of-the-whole (CAL) meeting for May 27 to discuss tariff-driven cost increases on pending purchases.

Why it matters: The highway contract awards and state HSIP pavement-marking contract represent the largest dollar items and are funded chiefly by state aid and local transportation sales tax; the decisions move several construction projects into the procurement or construction phase. The Tyler Technologies agreement formalizes the county—s multi-department move to a single property/tax/finance platform paid initially from ARPA funds. The board—s pause on the federally funded tethered-drone purchase underscores the county—s concern about potential unreimbursed costs associated with some grant-funded equipment.

Highway contracts and road safety projects

Justin Bergerson, county highway engineer, recommended awarding contract 2501 (pavement preservation covering multiple county roads, roughly 14.2 miles) and contract 2502 (establishing patch-unit pricing) to Knife River Corporation North Central for a combined apparent-low bid of $1,912,532.96. Bergerson said the bid was about 22% below the engineer—s estimate and that planned funding sources are state aid (~$1.75 million) and the county—s local-option sales tax (~$160,000).

Bergerson also asked the board to approve contract 2507, a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) project to install recessed, ground-epoxy pavement markings on selected roads. The apparent low bidder was Sir Lines-A-Lot at $230,337.40. Commissioners approved both awards.

—"The apparent low bid is from Knife River Corporation North Central, in the amount of $1,912,532.96,— Bergerson told the board, and he later described the HSIP pavement-marking technique as providing 5-to-7 years of service life compared with one or two seasons for latex striping.

Information on change orders and cost control: Bergerson said contractors procure materials after a signed contract and that major change orders (for example, contaminated soils or deep fills) would be brought to the county—s attention; routine quantity adjustments will be handled administratively by the engineer and field staff.

Tethered drone grant: tabled over reimbursement risk

Clinton (staff) reported on a meeting with Administrator Usher and Sheriff Cyberlik regarding an Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) competitive grant that would pay for a tethered unmanned aerial system. Clinton summarized the group—s recommendation: —"We recommend declining the grant at this time.—

Because the county could face unreimbursed costs while awaiting federal reimbursement, the item will remain tabled. Clinton said the group —discussed potential temporary funding sources while awaiting reimbursement, the potential risk for non reimbursement, and the overall wants versus needs.—

Emergency operations plan updated with wording change

The board approved the Isanti County Emergency Operations Plan with a minor textual change requested by a commissioner: update language on page 9, special events, to indicate that the Isanti County Fair is hosted by the Isanti County Fair Board (rather than by the county). Clinton told the board the change would reflect that the Fair Board hosts the event while the county retains emergency-response responsibilities.

Human services contracts and clinic improvements

Health & Human Services asked the board to approve several contract amendments and purchases: - An allocation of $5,000 to Lakes and Pines (via Region 70 fiscal hosting) to provide additional rental assistance to current housing-voucher participants; the board approved the amendment. - An amendment to Avivo—s contract that replaces Exhibit B (invoicing language) to align contract language with invoicing; the board approved the non-monetary amendment. - Purchase and installation of a bottle-filling station for the WIC clinic (Suite J) at a total cost of $8,836, fully funded by a dental-innovation grant; the board approved the purchase.

Marjane McGowan (contract manager) and HHS staff said the Avivo amendment does not change funding levels but aligns the contract with invoicing practice. Staff said Lakes and Pines provides housing and wraparound supports and coordinate referrals to county services when appropriate.

Planning, plats and park actions

The board approved multiple planning items that had come with Planning Commission recommendations: preliminary and final plats including Hauschbauer Hills (preliminary), The Bluffs of Rum River (preliminary), a conditional-use amendment for C & K Holdings LLC (allowing sales of cars, equipment trailers and enclosed trailers and setting a maximum of 75 combined vehicles/trailers), final plats for YC Acres and Erickson—s Acre Rearrangement, and amendments to the Lower St. Croix watershed plan.

In parks business, the board approved a land swap transferring 0.585 acres between Springvale County Park and Joel Hansen (to consolidate usable park frontage), awarded a concrete-under-fence quote of $18,400 to Mid State Masonry for the Irving and John Anderson County Park dog-park project (phase 3), and approved purchase of a combined pet-and-pedestrian drinking fountain for the dog park for $6,731.01 (park-catalog low quote). Environmental services division leader Barry Wendorff said the under-fence concrete will ease maintenance along the dog-park fence.

Information technology and licensing

Auditor-Treasurer Angie Larson presented the county—s Tyler Technologies implementation and associated annual SAS (software-as-a-service) fee. The board approved the first-year SAS fee of $103,170 (initial implementation costs were budgeted from ARPA) and separately approved an additional quote for optional Tyler modules (annual cost indicated in the quote).

Temporary liquor license, claims, minutes and other routine actions

The board approved a temporary intoxicating-liquor license for the Cambridge Isanti Area Softball Association (Sanquist Park), approved claims and warrants as presented, adopted personnel actions reported in the agenda packet, accepted multiple donations by resolution, and formally approved commissioner committee assignments and other routine agenda items.

Tariff concerns and scheduling

Administration asked the board to set a committee-of-the-whole meeting (CAL) at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 27 to discuss tariff-driven increases that could affect pending purchases and equipment acquisitions. Amanda explained the meeting will be a discussion only (no board vote at that meeting) to decide whether departments should return items for new approvals or whether the board should consider a sweeping motion to continue previously approved contracts with an "up to" amount that includes newly imposed tariffs; the board set the meeting.

Votes at a glance (motions, movers/seconds where recorded, outcome)

- Approve amended agenda (motion by Commissioner Burd; second by Commissioner Christiansen): approved. - Approve May 6, 2025 board minutes (motion by Commissioner Berg; second by Commissioner Westerberg): approved. - Approve personnel action items (motion by Commissioner Berg; second by Commissioner Westerberg): approved. - Approve Cambridge Drift Dusters off-site gambling application (motion by Commissioner Westerberg; second by Commissioner LaRoe/LaRue): approved. - Approve commissioner committee assignment (replace Sandy Andre with Amy Peterson for park-board appointment) (motion by Commissioner LaRue; second by Commissioner Berg): approved. - Accept donations to Isanti County (by resolution; motion by Commissioner Berg; second by Commissioner Westerberg): approved. - Tethered UASI grant (recommended decline; item remains tabled): tabled (no formal board motion to accept; staff recommended declining and the board left the item tabled). - Approve Isanti County Emergency Operations Plan with minor text modification (motion by Commissioner Berg; second by Commissioner Westerberg): approved. - Approve utility permits (motion by Commissioner Westerberg; second by Commissioner LaRoe): approved. - Approve claims and warrants (motion by Commissioner Burt/Burd; second by Commissioner LaRoe): approved. - Set CAL meeting for May 27 at 9:00 a.m. to discuss tariffs (motion by Commissioner Christiansen; second by Commissioner Westerberg): approved. - Planning items & plats (various motions; movers/seconds recorded in minutes): all planning items presented (preliminary plats, conditional-use amendment, final plats, watershed plan amendments) approved as presented. - Approve authorization of HHS payment claims (motion by Commissioner Westerberg; second by Commissioner LaRue): approved. - Amend contract with Lakes and Pines (additional $5,000 for rental assistance): approved. - Amend Avivo contract (replace Exhibit B invoicing language, no funding change): approved. - Purchase bottle filling station for WIC clinic, $8,836 (dental innovation grant funded): approved. - Award contract 2501 and contract 2502 to Knife River Corporation North Central, $1,912,532.96 (apparent low bid): approved. - Award contract 2507 (HSIP pavement-marking) to Sir Lines-A-Lot, $230,337.40 (apparent low bid): approved. - Springvale County Park land swap (0.585 acres each way between County and Joel Hansen): approved. - Award concrete-under-fence to Mid State Masonry for $18,400 (dog-park project): approved. - Purchase dog-park drinking fountain $6,731.01 (park catalog low quote): approved. - Tyler Technologies first-year SAS fee $103,170 (initial implementation from ARPA funds): approved. - Approve additional Tyler Technologies quote/modules as presented (annual cost included in quote): approved. - Temporary intoxicating-liquor license for Cambridge Isanti Area Softball Association: approved.

Ending

Commissioners closed the meeting after routine miscellaneous items and set a drainage-authority meeting to follow. Several actions authorize projects to proceed into procurement, contract execution or implementation. The board scheduled a follow-up CAL meeting on May 27 to discuss the possible cost impacts from new tariffs and to consider how the county should handle pending equipment or purchase approvals.