Ramsey County commissioners on Tuesday approved several highway-related payments, authorized a hydraulic study of a failing low-water crossing, and agreed to buy a 16-foot snow pusher for winter operations.

The board voted to pay TJB Construction $19,887.50 for an apron, Close Construction $19,500 for a Devil’s Lake yard gravel stockpile, and a final retained payment of $47,814.75 to Close Construction for completion of Ramsey County 4 and 7. In separate action, commissioners authorized KLJ to perform a hydraulic and topographic study of the Edmore Coulee crossing on 90 Sixth Avenue at an estimated cost of $10,000.

Highway staff member Jason presented the invoices and project recommendations. “Invoice came in from TJB Construction for the apron in the for $19,887.50 asking for a motion to pay that,” he said. Each payment was approved by roll call; the board’s record shows Hodes, Frith, Will Helmy and Volk voting in favor on the motions where individual roll calls were requested.

On the Edmore Coulee crossing, engineers told commissioners the current low-water crossing is rusted and not passable. KLJ’s scope will include a two-option preliminary analysis — sizing a cover or designing a culvert and roadway rebuild — and a field survey to measure cross sections. Commissioners discussed durability and maintenance trade-offs; one commissioner said a culvert and road rebuild would likely reduce long-term maintenance despite higher upfront cost.

The board also approved purchasing a 16-foot snow pusher from Ironhide for $13,000. Jason said the pusher is designed to attach directly to the county’s loaders via the quick-attach coupling and can be used on both machines.

Commissioners extensively debated whether to lease the county reclaimer to private contractors. Concerns included insurance coverage and setting a precedent for renting county equipment. Jason and others noted an earlier arrangement allowed a township to rent the reclaimer; commissioners said that practice will not continue for private contractors. “I’m pretty positive that we are not insured to rent equipment,” one commissioner said, and the board agreed to stop renting the reclaimer to private contractors and to continue township usage on a limited basis.

Next steps include the KLJ study work authorization and scheduling delivery/installation of the snow pusher for winter road work.