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County engineers recommend short-term overlay for County Road 170 segment while Sourcewell and Baxter plan development
Summary
Crow Wing County staff recommended a thinner, shorter-lived overlay for a portion of County Road 170 near Mapleton Road after Sourcewell and the City of Baxter asked the county to delay a longer-life reconstruction while they finalize development plans.
County Engineer Tim Bridal recommended the county apply a thinner overlay expected to last roughly 5–8 years to a short stretch of County Road 170 near Mapleton Road rather than the 3-inch, longer-life surfacing planned for 2026, after Sourcewell and the City of Baxter requested time to complete development planning.
"If we moved ahead with our 20 year fix on this...to have Sourcewell come and request to make this one big piece of property ... it'd be a waste of taxpayers money," Bridal said, explaining why staff brought the city's April 1 letter to the Committee of the Whole. Reed TC, director of facilities at Sourcewell, told commissioners Sourcewell bought the three parcels in March to support the Wonder Trek Children's Museum and that Sourcewell currently has no other confirmed development plans for the site.
Commissioners pressed staff on alternatives, timelines and costs. Commissioners estimated the affected segment at about one-third of a mile; staff said a local estimate for a mill-and-overlay had been discussed informally at about $70,000. Bridal said a 1–1.5 inch overlay would likely last 5–8 years but warned that it would show cracking sooner than a full reconstruction. "Through you know, we do 3 inches to hopefully last 20 years," Bridal said.
Chair Barrows and other commissioners expressed concern about setting a precedent for frequent delays of capital projects for outside requests, but several members signaled willingness to allow a short-term fix in this instance so Baxter and Sourcewell can finalize plans. By the end of the discussion Barrows called for staff to continue coordinating with the city and Sourcewell and recorded consensus for Bridal to work with Baxter on a short-term solution.
The county will decide whether to keep the work in its 2026 Highway Improvement Plan based on the design alternative and timing information Sourcewell and Baxter provide in the coming months.
