County authorizes Bradock grade-raise plans and 93rd Road survey; potato‑farm road work deferred for now

Emmons County commissioners approved final plans and specifications for a Bradock grade-raise project and authorized the project to go to bid on a date the DOT set for May 8, with the aim of completing construction this summer.

Road engineer John Martin asked commissioners to sign federal-aid certification letters and to approve the plans and specs. He said the bid date set by the Department of Transportation is May 8 and the county hopes to have the project completed during the construction season.

Commissioners also discussed a long-standing section-line dispute on 93rd Road. Staff reported the North Dakota Supreme Court has identified the legal corner, and the board authorized hiring surveyors to stake the section line and provide 100-foot offsets to guide right-of-way and reconstruction planning; John Martin estimated the staking work at about $3,120.

The board reviewed engineering estimates for rebuilding the access road to a proposed potato-storage site. Estimates ranged by option, including a higher-cost cement-stabilization alternative. Commissioners expressed concern about reconstructing a road while heavy construction traffic would be using it and favored interim repairs (grading, blades, limited gravel) now with the possibility of larger reconstruction in late fall or next spring. No final authorization for full reconstruction was made; staff will keep the item on the radar for future funding and coordinate phased work to minimize overlap with site construction.

Separately, road staff reported maintenance work at the Linton shop (concrete repairs) and discussed staffing impacts from an employee's medical leave and possible early hiring to cover spring workloads; commissioners asked for a written retirement date from the affected employee to avoid double-staffing.