Union County approves $3.53 million in bridge grants and engineering contract

The Union County Board of Commissioners on May 14 approved four State of South Dakota Department of Transportation bridge-improvement grants totaling $3,533,700 and authorized a construction-engineering contract for one county bridge project.

Commissioner Headid moved and Commissioner Joffer seconded approval of bridge grants for local administration for four projects: 64-080-251 for $748,400; 64-023-090 for $1,324,500; 64-060-137 for $730,400; and 64-080-034 for $730,400. All motions were recorded as carried.

Highway Superintendent Jerry Buum also asked the board to approve a construction-engineering contract with Ulteig Engineers Inc. for the BIG Replacement Project, Project 64-030-034. The board approved the contract, which lists estimated professional fees of $63,674.00 and expenses of $3,778.50 for a total of $67,452.50.

The approvals were routine and recorded without roll-call vote totals in the minutes. The grants and contract place the county in position to begin local administration of the specified bridge rehabilitation or replacement projects, subject to the terms of the grant agreements and standard state and county contract processes.

The board recessed after the highway business and later entered an executive session for legal matters; no further action on the bridge projects was recorded at that time.