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Ditch inspector recommends SEH for County Road 55 trail design; construction targeted for federal FY2029
Summary
Environmental Technician Adam Ritsche recommended SEH be hired to design the mile‑long County Road 55 trail in Rice, citing the firm’s trail and federally funded project experience; the agreement is under legal review and will return to the board for formal approval. Construction is planned for federal fiscal year 2029.
Environmental Technician (Ditch Inspector) Adam Ritsche recommended that the county enter into a design agreement with SEH for the mile‑long County Road 55 trail in Rice after reviewing six proposals and finding four to be prohibitively costly. Ritsche told the committee that SEH’s experience with similar trail projects and federally funded work, plus its local presence and prior collaborations with the County and the City of Rice, were the primary reasons for the recommendation.
The proposed design agreement is under legal review and will be brought back to the Benton County Board for formal approval at a future meeting. Staff noted the project is supported by a federal Transportation Alternatives grant and is scheduled for construction in federal fiscal year 2029, meaning construction remains several years away. Chair Steven J. Heinen and other commissioners expressed support for staff’s recommendation and appreciation for the coordination with city and federal partners.
