Dunn County delays McKenzie Bay award, advances gravel agreements and weighs county engineer role

Dunn County commissioners on March 18 tabled action on the McKenzie Bay Road Restoration bid award and moved ahead on several road and maintenance items.

At a public bid opening, the county received bids for the McKenzie Bay project ranging from $1,439,590.41 to $1,717,935.00. Brosz Engineering will review the submissions and return a recommendation; Engineer Eric Ulness said the firm will work with the low bidder and the Corps to get required information back to the commission. Commissioner Olson made the motion to table the award pending that review; Commissioner Kleemann seconded and all voted aye.

Interim Road Superintendent Mike Karey presented two gravel-pit agreements (Fischer and Reems), which the board approved on a unanimous vote (motion by Heiser, seconded by Kleemann). Karey also updated the board on local roadwork: 92nd Ave. SW will wait until spring, 12th and 16th St. SW projects have secured Section 404 permits, 119th Ave. SW is expected to break ground after Easter, and 99th Ave. SW will resume when frost conditions allow.

The board discussed the Dukart water crossing, where the road is closed and traffic continues to cross a bridge the county described as unsafe. Bartlett & West representative Darin Schaeffer said the bridge is off the section line; commissioners asked the States Attorney to determine whether the bridge is personal property before moving forward with removal or a low‑water crossing.

Commissioner Pelton moved, and Commissioner Kleemann seconded, to hold a roundtable to consider creating a county engineer position and to delay filling the road superintendent vacancy until the roundtable concludes; the motion passed unanimously.

Next steps: Brosz Engineering will return a recommendation on the McKenzie Bay bids; the States Attorney will advise on the Dukart crossing; the board will convene a roundtable on a possible county engineer position.