Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cavalier County approves $1.65M County 55 Gorge contract, $1.7M in chip-seal work and hires KLJ for project
Summary
The Cavalier County Commission awarded Knife River a $1,652,000 contract for the County 55 Gorge project (19.07% county-funded, remainder ND DOT), approved a $1,700,715 low bid for county chip-seal work, and hired KLJ for engineering services; commissioners also approved multiple culvert and drainage actions.
The Cavalier County Board of Commissioners on May 19 awarded Knife River the low bid of $1,652,000 for the County 55 Gorge project and approved Morris Sealcoat’s low bid of $1,700,715 for the county’s chip-seal program. Commissioner Shane Gallagher moved to accept Knife River’s bid; Commissioner Nick Moser seconded the motion and the board carried it. Commissioner Greg Goodman moved to accept Morris Sealcoat’s bid; Commissioner Gallagher seconded and the motion carried.
Why it matters: the County 55 Gorge project is being partially funded by Cavalier County at 19.07 percent, with the North Dakota Department of Transportation covering the remainder; the chip-seal work is 100 percent county funded. Those funding splits affect the county’s capital plan and near-term levy or reserve decisions.
Commissioners also approved a construction engineering contract with consultant KLJ for the seal-coat projects, with a cost estimate of $93,500. Road staff interviewed Jeff Daley of KLJ for the County 55 Gorge project (CERP-1006(080) PCN 24083) and, based on interview scoring, voted to hire KLJ to provide services on that project.
Road Supervisor Terry Johnston and Road Foreman Sheldon Romfo briefed the board on several maintenance needs. Johnston reported large culverts in the Starkweather Coulee Drain (Banner Township) and East Snowflake Drain (Minto Township) require replacement; the work would be split approximately 60 percent to the Water Board and 40 percent to the county, with the Water Board taking the lead because the culverts are located in its drains. Romfo said the 2024 CAT motor graders supplied to the county were supposed to include reversible fans under the bid specs; he said he will work with Butler Machinery on resolving that equipment issue.
The board approved multiple culvert requests: a culvert for Ron Schill on County 23 (contingent on Schill covering material and installation costs), a request from Loma City between Sections 35 and 36, and two requests from South Dresden Township affecting Sections 30–31 and Section 31 to Section 6 in Waterloo Township. Commissioner motions and seconds for each item were recorded and each motion carried.
What happens next: KLJ will proceed as the selected consultant on the County 55 Gorge job; county staff will coordinate with ND DOT on funding and project delivery timelines. The Water Board will lead the large-culvert replacement projects and county staff will follow up on the motor-grader equipment warranty/spec compliance with the vendor.
