Stevens County engineers outline road projects, sealcoat strategy and early-stage spillway study

Stevens County public-works staff described a set of pavement-preservation and safety projects Wednesday, including targeted mill-and-overlay work on County Roads 13 and 8, a sealcoat and crack‑routing program for County Road 1 and other routes, and a preliminary design review for a spillway downstream of a county-owned impoundment.

The update, delivered during the Stevens County Board of Commissioners meeting, outlined a multi-year approach intended to extend pavement life amid rising materials and construction costs. Staff said they plan a mix of contract mill-and-overlay projects and in-house routing, rubberized crack filling and sealcoat work to get more years of service from existing pavement.

Public-works staff noted that County Road 1 has ‘‘cupping’’ in places — one example measured at about 1.25 inches — and described a typical preservation sequence: routing cracks, filling with a rubberized sealant, heat‑lancing to improve adhesion, and then sealcoating. ‘‘That material can expand up to 100 or 200% of its size,’’ staff said, describing trade-offs the county has weighed while changing crack‑filling compounds to improve durability. Staff estimated contractor crack‑filling at roughly $2–$2.30 a foot.

Staff said a candidate list for contracted mill-and-overlay work includes the section of County Road 13 south of Chicago and County Road 8 west to the Big Stone County line, and that sealcoat work will be submitted to State Aid for approval so the county can choose between construction or maintenance funding depending on winter conditions. The county also expects 6‑inch white striping under a highway safety improvement program next summer.

Equipment and upfitting needs came up in the update: staff reported the county is awaiting delivery of a Western Star chassis and a command trailer, and that upfitting costs for a recently purchased Polaris Ranger will be charged to public‑safety aid revenue and offset by a year‑end journal entry. The chassis is expected to be delivered in March or April, staff said.

Staff described an engineering meeting with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Stevens County Soil and Water and Houston Engineering about a spillway downstream of a county structure. Participants discussed options that include removing the existing structure and replacing it with rock riffles; one option the consultants discussed would lower the upstream water level by about two feet, though staff said some options avoid dropping upstream levels. ‘‘They have plans to do some public outreach prior to making any final decision,’’ staff said.

Commissioners and staff raised wetlands and mitigation concerns tied to potential changes in pool elevation. Staff said Houston Engineering and DNR dam‑safety and fisheries staff are leading the study and that the effort is preliminary; more public meetings and presentations are expected before any final actions.

The presentation included routine maintenance notes: tree and brush removal, mower and equipment repairs, and possible fabrication of a snow‑push blade for motor graders. Staff said the county is also looking for a used wheel‑loader blade for lot cleanup, and that building a blade in‑house might be cheaper than buying new.

The update closed with scheduling notes about conferences for county engineers and drainage interests in January and February.

The board did not take formal action on the engineering recommendations at Wednesday’s meeting; staff said they will return with project estimates and grant applications as appropriate.