11-20-2023 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Flood Sales Tax Committee—November 20, 2023 2 three of the Elm River Dams are in the same assessment district and the maximum amount of funds from the federal assessment district to maintain and repair all three dams each year is $41,880. He said the State was delayed in approving the permits to repair Dams one and two by eleven months, which led to a delay in the project and had a significant impact on the cost of the project. He said cost of the project to improve Dams one and two increased from $3,100,000 to $5,300,000 due to significant material and labor cost increases and a delay in the construction by one year. Mr. Pease said the SWC will be asked to increase their cost share to $3,114,000 and the Red River Joint Water Resource District will be asked at their meeting this spring to update their cost share to $1,967,400, leaving the local cost share at $218,600 and the request today from the Flood Sales Tax Committee to increase funding to $145,733. The existing funding approved in April 2022 was $95,267. Mr. Olson asked if the increase to concrete costs is local or nationwide. Mr. Pease said he has seen the issue statewide where contractors have not bid on projects due to concrete prices and labor costs. He said the FM Diversion project is also using a large amount of concrete. Mr. Benson said there is a lack of concrete in the region which affected county projects and costs this year. He said it is important to note, if there were more staff at the state water resource district department, it could have saved millions of dollars just on the two Elm River Dam projects. He said this information should be relayed to our state partners. Mr. Pease said the project will be bid in December and brought to the SWC for approval. MOTION, passed Mr. Breitling moved and Mr. Benson seconded to approve the amended cost share for Elm River Dams No. One and No. Two Improvements at a two thirds cost share not to exceed $145,733. On a roll call vote, the motion carried with Mr. Olson not voting. Updated funding request for 2022 Elm River Dam Number 3 Improvements Mr. Pease said in August of 2022 the Flood Sales Tax Committee approved a 90% local cost share of $16,830 for a project to improve Elm River Dam three. He said similarly to the improvements to Dams one and two, there was a delay in the project due to state permitting and no bids were placed on the project. He said multiple contractors have recommended improvements to Dams one, two, and three be completed as one project. He said for accounting and tracking purposes the dams will be figured separately, however, will be put as one bid package when it is put out for bid this winter. He said the improvements to dam number three increased from $400,000 to $1,000,000, the SWC will be asked to increase their cost share to $576,000, the Red River Joint Water Resource District will be asked to increase their cost share to $381,600, leaving the local cost share at $42,400, and the request from the Flood Sales Tax Committee today is to cost share 90% of the local share at $38,160. MOTION, passed Mr. Breitling moved and Mr. Benson seconded to approve the amended cost share for Elm River Dam Number three improvements at a 90% cost share not to exceed $38,160. On a roll call vote, the motion carried with Mr. Olson not voting. 5. PROJECT REQUESTS Rochester and Page Township Slope Erosion Repair Project Mr. Soucy said 138th Avenue Southeast is a shared road between Rochester and Page Township. He said a portion of the road is a low basin that causes issues for the townships during high water events. He said the ultimate solution is to widen the road top, flatten, and armor the slopes with rock and gravel, and install a culvert to equalize the water on both sides of the road. Clerk/Treasurer for Rochester Township, Marvin Thorson was present and said the road is not safe or a good road. He said the shoulders are steep, the road is narrow, and two cars cannot meet on the roadway. He said the townships