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Blue Earth County awards road and safety contracts, advances bridge work and weighs FEMA appeal after dam-powerhouse denial
Summary
Public Works won board approval to award slope‑repair and HSIP safety contracts, accepted annual reports, secured an EV‑pickup grant, advanced bridge design, and reported FEMA denied public assistance for the dam powerhouse and related components; commissioners largely decided not to pursue a broad appeal.
Public Works delivered a broad update and several action items July 8, and the board approved contract awards, annual reports and intergovernmental agreements and discussed next steps after FEMA denied funding related to the county's dam powerhouse.
Contract awards and reports: the board approved the low bid from R & E Enterprises for a CSAH 40 slope repair project (low bid $246,407.50 against a $381,070 estimate) and approved a HSIP safety project award to Safety Science Incorporated after MnDOT approved advancing the project despite bids above the county estimate. The board also approved the 2024 Public Works and Parks annual reports.
Trail engineering and agreements: Public Works presented MnDOT contract 1060249 to administer federal funds and provide preliminary engineering for a shared‑use trail and sidewalk in the city of Eagle Lake; the board approved the contract and a companion resolution for preliminary engineering and also approved a project‑sponsor agreement with the city.
EV pickups grant: staff announced receipt of a FY2026 Carbon Reduction Program grant of $120,000 to buy two EV pickups (covering 80% of purchase price) to replace gas pickups; staff discussed placement of EVs with drivers who can recharge overnight.
Bridge and dam update; FEMA denial: staff reported ongoing coordination with TKDA and MnDOT on a major bridge project (center span now ~350 feet, large steel girders, and peer review) and discussed geotechnical and scour considerations. On the dam, staff told the board that FEMA denied the county's public assistance claim for the powerhouse, tainter gates and substation because the facility was not in active use at the start of the incident period and the county had surrendered the FERC license. "FEMA denied the county request for funding, specifically for the facility's powerhouse, tainter gates, and substation," Public Works staff said; FEMA also cited that the county had indicated it did not intend to make the powerhouse operable again, which the agency said affected eligibility. The denial also precludes reimbursement for removal of roughly 535 cubic yards of sediment in the powerhouse. Commissioners discussed whether to appeal; many characterized a broad appeal as a long shot and asked staff to consider limited follow-up on sediment removal if cost‑effective.
Landfill fee change: administration proposed increasing the Ponderosa Landfill mattress fee to $25.64 per unit effective July 14 to match higher recycler rates; the board discussed rounding for cashier ease and approved the fee increase.
Next steps: staff will execute contracts, process final pay requests per accepted project paperwork, move forward on MnDOT contract administration for Eagle Lake trail engineering, purchase EV pickups as grant funds allow, and continue coordination on the bridge design and any targeted follow‑up with FEMA on sediment removal if feasible.
