County engineer proposes local resurfacing projects and equipment purchases; seeks city cost-sharing

County engineering staff presented the secondary-roads and equipment budget and described several capital projects the county would like to undertake if reserves and partner contributions allow.

Speaker 11 described equipment priorities including replacement of disc mowers and a rubber-wheeled roller and the procurement of two snow pushers and a Harley rake for roadside maintenance. On capital projects, the engineer proposed two local paving jobs drawn from reserve funds and possible city cost-sharing: Olive Avenue (West Side of Sibley) with an estimated cost of about $300,000 and a 3rd Street project in Ashton also estimated at roughly $300,000.

Speaker 11 also noted the county expects FEMA and state reimbursements for flood-related work, including the Poet Bridge project, and described a plan to seek state pre-authorization so the county need not float all costs while awaiting reimbursement. "We're going to program the 300,000 so that I have the cash flow ability to the expenditure authority to do it," Speaker 11 said of Olive Avenue, while noting the project would not proceed without the city's participation.

The board discussed timing, potential savings by owning additional surfacing equipment (an oil distributor and steel drum roller), and the need to stagger future truck and maintainer purchases to avoid concentrated replacement years. No final appropriation was approved; staff will bring project scoping and financing options back to the board.