Steele County moves ahead with three seal‑coat projects, two bridge studies and new pickup for road crew

Steele County commissioners on March 4 voted to advance three seal‑coat projects and to proceed with studies and design for two bridge/culvert replacements, and approved the purchase of a new pickup to support road‑maintenance operations.

The board authorized staff to pursue three seal‑coat jobs and to begin hydraulic studies and cost estimates for bridge work on County Roads 6 and 20. The motion to move forward with those projects was made by Richard and carried unanimously after discussion of funding sources and sequencing.

A presenter for county roads told commissioners the earliest federal‑aid bridge applications could be submitted is 2027, meaning local funding or one‑time state money will be needed if the county wishes to act sooner. "The soonest you would be able to apply for Federal Aid Bridge funding would be 2027," the presenter said, adding that some projects may instead be built as culverts depending on hydraulic study results and funding caps from earlier grant rounds.

Commissioners discussed a mix of funding to cover near‑term work including House Bill 1505 one‑time state funds, prairie‑dog funds earmarked for roads, and the county's 5‑mill road account. The presenter estimated a seal‑coat cost of about $40,000 per mile and said three seal‑coat projects and the two bridge efforts together were likely in the range of $1.2–1.4 million before adjustments from bids.

On equipment, the board approved buying a 2024 Dodge 550 pickup priced at $79,344. The motion (made by Richard and seconded by Perry) used $65,000 from the vehicle budget and the remainder from the county’s overweight‑permits account to equip the truck for crack‑sealing, tire changes and to carry the welder/generator needed for sign and road work. Richard moved for the purchase and the motion carried.

Officials said the new truck will be set up with a headache rack, safety lights and equipment before crack‑sealing begins. "We need to get that pickup set up first," road staff said; once equipped, crews expect to begin crack‑sealing as weather permits, ahead of chip‑sealing season.

The board also asked staff to bid fog‑seal as an alternate line item on seal‑coat bids so commissioners can weigh additional cost and slipperiness risks when actual prices are returned. The presenter recommended using an alternate bid item rather than committing to fog‑seal without seeing market prices.

Next steps: staff will return with hydraulic studies, sizing and cost estimates for the two bridge sites and will advertise seal‑coat bids when the board confirms dates. Funding decisions will follow after bids and completed studies.