County discusses various Highway Department items

Lake County Commissioners discussed several items with County Highway Superintendent Nels Nelson during their meeting on Tuesday.  

Commissioners approved a proposal to replace the fuel system at the County’s Highway Shop.  Nelson said the total cost of replacing the system is just more than 14-thousand-500-dollars, according to a quote from Sioux Equipment of Sioux Falls. Commissioners voted to accept the payment schedule for the replacement of the fuel system.  

The commission also approved a new Highway Department policy for the ordering and distribution of culverts to townships.  The policy states that townships that want to order culverts through the Highway Department must complete an order form, and a 25-dollar administrative fee should be paid to the county at the time the order is placed.  According to the policy, the Highway Department will keep a limited inventory of culverts 24-inches and under available. There’s more information included in the policy, which Nelson said will be sent to each township supervisor.

Nelson presented information to commissioners Tuesday also on bids received for the county’s AC Mat construction project.  Nelson suggested commissioners reject the AC Mat bids because the lowest bid came in around 300-thousand dollars more than what had been budgeted for the project.  He then presented commissioners with a plan for moving forward with some of the projects.  

Nelson also discussed financing options for some Highway Department equipment.  

In other business, Nelson presented commissioners with the official notice of award for the state’s Bridge Improvement Grant funds that the county has been approved for.  The award is for 246-thousand-500 dollars and is for 50-percent of the cost of the bridge project. Nelson said the project includes a bridge near 461st Avenue and 239th Street.