08-16-2004 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Road Advisory Minutes--August 16, 2004 ROAD ADVISORY COMMITTEE AUGUST 16, 2004..2:30 PM 1. MEETING TO ORDER Commissioner Scott Wagner, Highway Department Portfolio Commissioner, called a meeting of the Road Advisory Committee to order at 2:30 PM on Monday, August 16, 2004, in the Commission Room, Cass County Courthouse. Members were present as follows: John Meyer, Vern Bennett, Robyn Sorum, Scott Wagner, Keith Berndt, Rich Sieg and Mark Johnson. Tom Soucy from the Highway Department was also present. Members Darrell Vanyo, Dennis Rust and Jurgen Suhr were absent. 2. FEDERAL AID, Hiahwav and bridae proiects Mr. Berndt provided maps and a list of recommendations regarding the 2005 and 2006 federal aid highway and bridge projects. He said the proposed highway projects are mainly asphalt overlays of existing pavements, with the exception of County Highway 12 grading and the County Highway 20 bridge approach work. About 35 bridges in the county have poor sufficiency ratings, and three are on county highways. Mr. Berndt said the deficient township bridges included in the recommendations to be replaced were based on road type, availability of alternate routes, traffic volume and other factors. MOTION, passed Mrs. Sorum moved and Mr. Meyer seconded to approve the list submitted by the County Engineer on county bridge replacement projects. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Concerning highway projects, Mr. Berndt recommended overlaying existing highways to preserve the investment already made in them, rather than expanding the pavement system. Mr. Bennett said that philosophy might eliminate a road that would normally be a top priority for pavement, and Mr. Berndt was in agreement. County Highway 14 south of Horace was used as an example. Mr. Berndt said he was approached by a large contractor from Fergus Falls who showed interest in helping the county to get Highway 14 paved. Mr. Berndt asked if the board would want him to continue discussions along those lines, and the members said they would be open to consider it. Mr. Berndt said it would be a policy decision of the board if they decide paving County Highway 14 would be a higher priority than the County Highway 81 overlay project, which he feels could be delayed a year or two. He would recommend a two-year project on Highway 14, re-shaping it in 2005 and paving in 2006 possibly. MOTION, passed Mrs. Sorum moved and Mr. Bennett seconded to approve the list of highway projects as submitted by the County Engineer, adding a project to pave four miles of County Highway 14 as a priority ahead of the County 81 overlay project. Discussion: Mr. Johnson asked about the volume of traffic this contractor would have on the road, and Mr. Berndt said there would be a large volume of trucks on that four miles. At the call for the question and on roll call vote, the motion carried with five members voting "Aye", Mr. Meyer and Mr. Johnson opposing.