Bremer County engineer outlines $7.2M road plan, warns of culvert and paving sequencing costs

Landon, the county engineer, told supervisors the road and public‑works budget includes a mix of maintenance, capital and equipment spending designed to reduce future pavement disruption by doing culvert replacements ahead of paving.

"We have identified a significant number of corrugated metal pipe culverts that are far enough along that we would like to replace them this summer before we do the paving in 2027," Landon said, describing a program that anticipates concrete pipe replacements and subsequent asphalt patching so pavement is not reopened shortly after repaving.

Key budget figures Landon presented include:

- Total proposed expenditures (current proposal): $7,218,000.00; - Projected total with proposed wages: $7,408,000.00; - Equipment package listed at $665,000 with anticipated trade‑ins reducing net outlay closer to $500,000 (motor grader, semi, tractor, two pickups); - Crack sealing: $50,000; asphalt patching tied to culvert work: $100,000.

Landon also said the county is pursuing CHBP bridge funding for two bridge projects; those two bridges are included in the plan and the engineer expects to pursue grant reimbursement but noted the budget figures would change depending on grant outcomes. He described other lines including traffic counters to better target paving work, dust‑control materials, and a pilot stabilization project near the Frederica Quarry.

Supervisors asked about grant timing for rumble strips and how pilot projects would be handled if grant funds are not awarded; Landon said staff would add a maintenance amendment if needed.

What happens next

Landon asked supervisors to consider the wage assumptions and guardrails on fund balance; he recommended keeping an ending balance in the roughly $2 million range to protect cashflow and withstand weather-related costs. Supervisors and staff will continue to refine wages and capital plan before final budget adoption.