Nelson County declares spring flooding emergency, directs highway staff to track road agreements

The Nelson County Commission on May 16 unanimously declared a spring flooding emergency and instructed county highway staff to monitor and report county road conditions at the next regular meeting.

Chairman Cody Johnson and all four commissioners voted in favor after Seth Hamre of the Nelson County Highway Department updated the board on current operations and seasonal flooding risks. Commissioner Aaron Mork moved to declare the emergency; Commissioner Cameron Swenson seconded the motion, and the vote was recorded as "All members voted 'Yes'." The declaration accompanied a directive that Highway Department staff, including Hamre and County Auditor Nathan Parks, seek information on any agreements with neighboring Ramsey County related to work on County Road 27 and County Road 23 north.

Commissioners also discussed immediate maintenance plans. Paul Bjornson provided updates on planned seal-coat work on County Roads 18, 35 and 23 and on scheduled bridge removal and replacement for the Twete Bridge and the Quanbeck Bridge. Lee Williams, a meeting attendee, offered his observations on road conditions; commissioners requested a fuller status update at the next regular meeting.

The emergency declaration is procedural: it records the county's recognition of elevated flooding-related risks and signals expedited attention by highway staff. The commission did not record a detailed budget or specific temporary measures tied to the declaration during the session.

Next steps recorded by the board include staff follow-up on any Ramsey County agreements affecting the cited roads and a report back on county road conditions at the next meeting.