Board accepts completion of DD11 Sub 1 drainage project, approves final payment conditions

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors opened and closed a public completion hearing for the DD11 Sub 1 drainage district improvement and accepted the project as complete.

Staff summarized the project history: the county solicited bids, Ragnus Brothers Excavating of Lake Mills was the contractor, and the final contract amount was listed at $512,629.50. Staff said Ragnus had been paid approximately $436,000 to date and that the project core was finished earlier in the year but that frozen‑ground conditions delayed some fieldwork until spring. Staff recommended that no liquidated damages be assessed, that a one‑year warranty period begin upon acceptance, and that the remaining 10% retainage be released 30 days after the board's acceptance if no warranty issues emerge.

Landowners and board members who spoke praised the contractor's work. No crop‑damage claims were recommended and staff noted roughly $47,000 had been billed to Secondary Roads for work in the road right‑of‑way; staff said those reimbursements would be reflected in the drainage levy calculations.

A motion to accept the completion report and to approve the contract as complete (accepting the work by Ragnus Brothers for DD11 Sub 1) was made, seconded and carried by the board. The acceptance triggers the one‑year warranty and the 30‑day timeline for release of retainage per standard county practice.