Highway department awarded sweeper attachment and county approves new snowmobile trail land-use permit

Koochiching County’s highway department on Jan. 27 received board approval to buy a sweeper attachment for its front-end loader and to approve a land-use permit that changes snowmobile-club access.

Highway staff recommended awarding the budgeted sweeper attachment to McCoy after receiving competing quotes (RMS $41,200; McCoy $35,378). Staff said the attachment lets the department use existing equipment rather than buying a dedicated street sweeper, noting rental market prices make renting impractical. The board approved awarding the purchase to McCoy on motion and second, recorded as unanimous.

The board also approved land-use permit 3606-0023 (which supersedes earlier permits 3606-0014 and 3606-0021) to provide a two-sided snowmobile trail alignment where the club lost access across a quarry. Staff said MnDOT prefers trails on both sides of the road to reduce safety issues from snowmobile lights and that signage would be installed on both sides of the corridor before ground freezing next year. Clearing responsibilities were discussed: MnDOT will likely clear some trees and the snowmobile club may be expected to do some work; the county said it has no active obligation to clear trees for the trail.

Highway staff also announced several informational items: a public open house on Feb. 10 about a corridor redesign study at the Minnesota North Rainy River campus (items could include proposed roundabouts), and a notice that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requires continued groundwater testing at the Mispaw wells through 2026, which constrains a planned well-and-sewer project until the wells can be capped or testing concludes.

The engineer thanked the board and noted staff coverage while on an upcoming vacation. There was no dissent on the sweeper purchase or the land-use permit resolution.