Clay County contracts, bridge projects and fuel procurement shape 2017 public works workplan

Clay County’s highway program dominated multiple agenda items in 2017: the commission approved competitive fuel contracts for ethanol blend and dyed diesel across several meetings, accepted low bids for materials, and authorized purchases of heavy equipment and mowers for the highway and weed departments. Polley updated commissioners on bridge projects including University Road and other state‑let bridge replacements; the county participated in the SDDOT bridge inspection program and later authorized bridge offering advertisements for historic structures slated for replacement.

The board approved several payments tied to ditch and drainage work (for example, payment to Jerke & Sons Construction for Clay Creek Ditch Cleanout in the amount of $53,459.33). It also set seasonal weight limit enforcement under RESOLUTION #2017‑04 (6‑ton per axle on hard surface with certain exceptions; 7‑ton per axle for other gravel roads) and authorized use of state contracts for equipment purchases. Regular bid openings, approvals and contract signatures appear throughout the minutes for 2017.