Garrison Diversion says pipeline bids next week; warns Griggs County of possible winter construction and road impacts

Garrison Diversion district engineer Kevin Kovar told the Griggs County Commission on Nov. 10 that the Red River Valley Water Supply Project is moving toward advertisement for three construction contracts and that contractors could begin work this winter.

"We're gonna open bids next week," Kovar said, and the agency expects to award the contracts in December. Kovar described roughly 25 miles of pipe already in the ground in Foster County and said the three contracts being bid would include work roughly from a mile or two west of Highway 20 to about 112th Avenue near Highway 1. "What that means for Griggs County is, potentially, you could have construction starting this winter," he said.

County commissioners focused questions on the local effects: three county road crossings the project has proposed for Griggs County (described in the packet as crossings on Highway 3 near South Ossetton, Highway 9 past Revere and a crossing on Highway 22 in Helena Township), whether the county must sign permits now, and how the project would repair or reimburse for road damage from heavy hauling.

Kovar and Garrison Diversion staff said the agency had submitted utility-permit documents and asked the county to review and sign so permits would be in place before construction begins. He acknowledged contractors sometimes prefer winter hauling. "Some of those contractors like to deliver aggregate during the winter. Saves on the roads," Kovar said.

County road staff and several commissioners pressed Garrison Diversion to include explicit guarantees in permitting and contract documents so the project is responsible for restoring any damage. "If you wanna use the Sutton Highway as a haul road, you'll be responsible for a mill and overlay after the work is done," Kovar said he intended to include in permitting. Commissioners asked that such commitments be written into permits and that pre- and post-construction inspections be required and paid for by the project.

Commissioners also asked whether easements for the pipeline had been acquired by negotiation or through legal means: Garrison Diversion said most agreements were settled with property owners without court action, with two remaining. County officials said they would need time to review submitted petitions and paperwork involving a section-line change before taking action; the board agreed to table that item to allow staff and legal counsel to confirm notice and filing requirements.

The Garrison Diversion team included consultant representatives from Black & Veatch and legal counsel; they offered to return to a future meeting after the commission had time to review permit documents and the section-line petition. County staff said they would seek written commitments on road crossing conditions, pre/post haul inspections and a clear point of contact for landowners.

Next steps: Garrison Diversion will provide permit copies and coordinate with county staff; the commission asked staff to prepare potential permit conditions for the board to review before signing.