County engineer outlines MnDOT detour plan, board authorizes Towmaster equipment reservation

County Engineer Todd Larson updated the Stevens County Board on highway operations and upcoming coordination with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Larson said the county has shifted maintenance efforts during a more traditional winter season, using recently acquired tractors and a snowblower to clear drifts and clean ditches to increase stormwater storage. He described work to coordinate a detour agreement with MnDOT to allow MnDOT traffic to use County Road 10 during 2028 construction and reported the county received roughly $8,000 related to the road work. He said the county prefers to complete County Road 10 construction during the same season as the MnDOT project to maximize efficiency.

Larson asked the board to authorize signing a Towmaster quote to furnish and install equipment on a budgeted 2027 tandem truck. "By signing the attached Towmaster quote, we'll be locking in a price... they're also currently booked up to May 2027, so this will reserve us a spot in the production lineup," Larson said. The board voted to approve signing the quote to secure pricing and a production slot.

The board asked staff to return with a formal detour agreement for further consideration at a future meeting and noted that if schedules slip the project could be delayed into 2027 without significant harm to county operations.

Next steps include bringing a finalized detour agreement with MnDOT to the board and proceeding with procurement steps for the Towmaster installation once a chassis is available.