Pine County adopts five‑year transportation plan, adds three projects to sales‑tax list

The Pine County Board voted to adopt a five‑year transportation improvement plan and to add three projects to the county's local‑option sales‑tax project list: County Road 124 (a 1‑mile surfacing project northeast of Pine City), County Road 151 (a 4‑mile north‑south stretch west of Rutledge) and County Road 172 (a 3‑mile east‑west segment east of Hinkley).

Aaron Gunderson, assistant county engineer, told commissioners the plan would cover about 127 miles of resurfacing over five years to meet the county’s goal of replacing pavement on a roughly 20‑year cycle and that the county continues pursue state and federal grant funds. Gunderson said the county had been awarded $1,750,000 from the Minnesota State Park Road Fund to improve the entrance to Saint Croix State Park (County State Aid Highway 22) and noted bond funding would support bridge work, including roughly $900,000 for a bridge over the Moosehorn.

Board members discussed how federal and state grants can be used to leverage sales‑tax dollars; one commissioner noted state aid bridges can bring substantial bonding that reduces county draw on its own funds. Staff and commissioners also pointed to a recent market shift that lowered asphalt prices by roughly 30 percent, which may reduce near‑term project costs. Commissioners noted workforce shortages can lengthen project timelines and that timing lettings when contractors are working nearby helps obtain better bids.

A motion to adopt the transportation improvement plan and add the three projects passed by voice vote. Commissioners said the county will continue to seek federal and state funding to supplement sales‑tax revenues and will refresh the five‑year list periodically as project costs and funding opportunities evolve.