County to finish repairs on Lake Washington Road next year

Eddy County officials got an update on the Lake Washington Road project from Ben Aaseth, a professional engineer with Interstate Engineering, at their meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Aaseth explained that the project, which would pave about eight-tenths of one mile along Eddy County 8, could be let for bidding as early as April. However, a few more details need to be ironed out.

Much of the discussion centered around funding for construction engineering. According to Aaseth, the county could utilize federal aid, but doing so would require commissioners to jump through a number of complicated hoops. Mike May, another professional engineer from Interstate Engineering, further explained the county’s options.

“They’ll give you 80 percent of the engineering, but you’ll have to go through their process, which you’re looking at about a month to a month and a half just for the process,” said May. “So, it's whether it’s worth your time or effort ... You could use it for engineering, but then it’s just going to cut you down for future projects.”

Rather than use federal aid on construction engineering, which is estimated to cost $51,000, the Eddy County commissioners decided to save it and use federal money only for the project itself, saving themselves the “headache” from paperwork and bureaucratic hoops without forfeiting any federal funds.

Aeseth estimated the total cost of the project to be “just under $600,000,” but is hopeful that they’ll see more affordable bid prices thanks to other projects in the region. A motion was then carried to accept Interstate Engineering’s agreement for engineering services.

“I’ll be getting the environmental document done here the month of November, and then I’ll be submitting what they call PS&E plans at the end of December,” said Aeseth, as he explained the project's timeline. “And then we’ll meet with you guys in January and invite the DOT [Department of Transportation] down and go through the plans ... and submit the plans at the end of January.”

Following the Lake Washington Road discussion, Eddy County Road Superintendent Todd Weber informed commissioners of issues surrounding two nearby bridges. According to Weber, the bridge on County Road 12, better known as Munster Highway, is having an issue that’s leading some to believe the bridge is unstable.

However, Weber said the bridge itself is “very stable,” and that the problem actually lies with the approach slab. The county commissioners agreed with Weber’s opinion to continue with regular maintenance rather than invest in detailed, more expensive repairs.

Weber also discussed an erosion issue near the Sheyenne River bridge. Weber told commissioners that water running underneath the bridge has eroded the slope of County Road 1, roughly two blocks west of the bridge itself. According to Weber, the repairs will cost around $30,000, which should be covered by money still available in the budget.

Eddy County Commissioner Dave Gehrtz presented plans and a cost estimate for the proposed county shop in Sheyenne. According to Gehrtz, materials for the structure will cost just over $60,000, which doesn’t include the price of labor, concrete and other expenses. A timeline for the project hasn’t been announced.

Commissioners also carried a motion to hire Nexus Planning and Consulting, LLC to begin work on Eddy County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. According to Eddy County Emergency Manager Lisa Thompson, it takes approximately two years to complete a new plan, and the current one expires in 2023.

Thompson and the commissioners also discussed a number of issues discovered during their recent active shooter drill at the courthouse. A few of the fixes discussed included fortifying the courtroom door, adding additional panic buttons, and fixing the lock on the sheriff’s office door.

It was also announced at the meeting that Teresa Kluth is stepping down as director of the Central Prairie Human Service Zone effective Nov. 26. Commissioners discussed the need for an interim director.

Commissioners wrapped up their meeting with a brief tour of the former jail, which is now a storage room in the courthouse basement. The room was not included in the courthouse’s recent basement remodel, and the commissioners expressed concern about its current condition.

Eddy County Auditor Patty Williams suggested using the remaining Cares Act funds to renovate the room. Additionally, commissioners suggested renovating a separate room connected to their meeting area, which was also skipped during the recent basement remodel. A motion was then carried to move forward with renovating both rooms.

The next county commission meeting will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 8:30 a.m. in the courthouse basement.