Board approves 2025 five-year road plan and several year-end payments, including True North Steel and DOT engineering invoice

The Ramsey County Board approved its 2025 five-year road plan and voted to pay several year-end bills, including an invoice to True North Steel for a stock order of culverts and the county's portion of engineering invoices related to 2022 washout repairs handled through the state Department of Transportation.

Road department staff member Kevin presented the five-year plan, which lists gravel projects, major paving projects (design in 2025 with construction in later years), chip-seal rotations, and bridge design money for a bridge in Morris Township. Kevin also reported equipment and building updates: ordering a new 3/4-ton pickup, a sand spreader truck with plow and belly scraper, new shop windows, and materials for a salt shed.

The board approved payment to True North Steel for the culvert stock order. The amount as read in the meeting has variable renderings in the transcript; the invoice was presented as approximately $30,004 (cent amounts unclear in the audio record). The board also approved payment of the county's share of KLJ/DOT design engineering for four washout sites from 2022, with total invoiced engineering costs presented at $5,645.76 (county share as presented in meeting). Both payments passed on roll-call votes.

Commissioners then approved the five-year road plan as presented; one commissioner noted it is a living document that can be changed as needs arise. Staff said the plan would be posted to the county website and could be adjusted before the first of the year.

No additional funding commitments beyond routine approval of invoices and the plan were recorded at the meeting. The board also heard updates on staffing: a filled operator position in Penn and upcoming interviews for a Devils Lake position.