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Committee hears updates on highway building, local storm sewer work and winter response
Summary
Staff updated the committee on a proposed highway department building RFP, active storm-sewer construction near County Road P and Midway, and described operational constraints during a heavy winter that limited some work and complicated snow removal operations.
The Highway Committee received multiple operational updates: staff said the county board approved moving forward on a proposed highway department building and work is underway on an RFP for design; staff also reported that the first section of storm-sewer work tied to a local project has begun and that some short-term road closures are necessary.
An agency official (S6) said the county board approved the building concept and that staff are preparing a request for proposals for architect and engineering services. Committee members raised questions about a proposed second-story addition on the office portion of the building and whether an elevator modification to the existing meeting room might be a less costly alternative.
Staff reported that construction crews have started storm-sewer work that crosses private property and ties out to County Road P near Midway; a short section of road is closed while pavement is removed and base is prepared, and staff said the segment should reopen to eastbound traffic only shortly after the work segment is completed.
On winter operations, staff described heavy challenges during a recent storm: numerous vehicles stalled, county equipment became stuck and tow resources were scarce, which constrained snow response operations. "There was a toll band that wouldn't move cars...Our equipment was stuck," the agency official said, adding that the county had to prioritize safety and could not deploy all crews while cars were stalled in travel lanes.
Committee members also asked about the county's role in the state-led Highway 21 reconstruction; staff said the county has no role in the state project and described plans to detour through routes such as County Road K to keep county crews safer while state work occurs.
No formal actions were taken on the building proposal during the meeting; staff said they will return with additional information and timelines as designs and scheduling are developed.
