Hubbard County approves township road deals, awards bridge contract and green-lights forest road grading

The Hubbard County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved several public-works actions aimed at maintaining county roads and supporting township projects.

County highway staff presented a memorandum of understanding with Clay Township to use state park road account funds for a milling and overlay on Jackfish Drive, the access road to Man Trap Lake; the board voted to approve the MOU. Highway staff said the memorandum clarifies financial responsibilities and which party will perform and maintain work.

On a separate item, the board awarded a bridge replacement contract for Straight River Township to Corby Contracting of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the low bidder at $711,513.15. Highway staff said WSB served as the project designer and that the larger concrete structure was upsized to include an animal crossing beneath the bridge at DNR request.

The board also approved low quotes to grade the county’s forest roads monthly from May through September. Staff reported a low south-end price of $91 per mile (the same company as last year) and a low north-end quote of $121.40 per mile; commissioners discussed the higher north-end cost and asked staff to circulate a map of the north routes.

Separately, the board approved two easements requested by the electric cooperative to replace overhead lines with underground lines on tax-forfeited county lands near Emmaville. Staff said the underground lines lie outside the timber line and will not affect timber access; the easement documents were approved for signature and recording.

The actions were routine but aim to keep several multi-year roadway and utility projects on schedule as field seasons open.

What’s next: highway staff will email commissioners a map of forest roads in the north end and proceed with contracting for grading and construction work.