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County staff reports pile overruns at Pier 2; commissioners discuss culvert fixes, HSIP grant for Red Willow
Summary
County staff reported piling for Pier 2 reached about 175 feet versus planned 110 feet because of water-bearing sands; work remains under contract and state grant coverage but may justify a time extension. Commissioners also discussed recurring culvert failures, resurfacing options and HSIP/SRF grant reimbursement procedures for Red Willow.
County staff updated commissioners July 6 on several infrastructure items including bridge pile driving, culvert failures on county roads, and grant-funded road projects.
A staff member reported that piling for Pier 2 of the Decker Bridge overran planned depths; piles have reached roughly 175 feet compared with the planned 110 feet because crews encountered water-bearing sands at the edge of an aquifer. The staff member said the contract and grant still cover the work and that the contractor is eligible for a premium on quantities exceeding the planned amount; the county expects the contractor may request a time extension for completion.
Road and maintenance staff described recurring problems with concrete culvert sections separating on County Road 13 and discussed repair approaches: in-place repairs with low-grade concrete and sand-cement bags for temporary fixes, replacing with one-piece steel culverts, or using internal liners (fiberglass) as less intrusive but more costly alternatives. Commissioners weighed tradeoffs between short-term quick fixes and longer-lasting, more expensive repairs.
Staff also confirmed the county obtained HSIP grant awards for Red Willow work. Because the county’s SRF (special road fund) reimbursement structure requires paying contractors first and submitting bills for reimbursement, staff advised the county will advertise and bid locally, complete the work, then submit contractor invoices to obtain the estimated $500,000 grant reimbursement.
Commissioners asked staff to prioritize critical road segments, pursue local matching grant opportunities where appropriate, and coordinate with neighboring counties when multi-jurisdictional applications would improve competitiveness.
The engineer’s update concluded with a reminder that emergency and seasonal maintenance staffing and equipment availability affect scheduling and scope.
