County engineer reports 2025 construction season under budget by about $1.2 million

Bremer County's county engineer presented a final report on 2025 construction-season projects and told the board the county finished the season under budget by roughly $1.2 million.

Landon said Bridge 1114 had a budget of about $1.6 million, with a final cost of roughly $1,218,000 (savings of about $381,000). Bridge 1115 was budgeted at $900,000 with final costs just under $606,000 (savings of about $294,000). Paving projects on County Road C33 were budgeted at about $2.7 million and finished at approximately $2,617,000 after change orders and shoulder widening. Landon also reported another joint bridge project budgeted at $1,000,000 with a total cost of about $1,212,000; the county's share is roughly half for that joint work with Chickasaw County.

Overall, Landon said the aggregate budgeted amount for the listed projects was about $6.2 million and total spending was just over $5.0 million. He told supervisors the savings are positive but also affect long-term planning because unspent budgeted dollars could have been allocated elsewhere. Supervisors asked for a reanalysis of deficient/poor bridges and a lifecycle cost report for recently resurfaced roads (for example, Shelby Ridge repave cost about $376,940 and an expected 25-year life cycle was cited).

Landon also noted a recent truck incident while clearing roads in heavy snow; the vehicle sustained frame damage and was submitted to insurance, with cost assessment pending. The driver was shaken but uninjured.

The board asked staff to prepare a short report on deficient bridges and lifecycle costs to inform budgeting for future seasons.