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A financial shuffle to keep the long awaited County State Aid Highway 10 reconstruction project moving forward, has left the 2024 County Road 16 rehabilitation in limbo.  

The County Board adopted the Transportation Improvement Plan for 2024 last week with Commissioner Rick Greene opposed.  He made all the right moves fighting to get the roadway within his district connecting Taylors Falls to Almelund, back on the work plan— but could not make any headway with his fellow commissioners.

County Engineer Joe Triplett said state aid that had been budgeted for CSAH 10, near Harris, did not arrive as projected, and several hundred thousand was shifted out of the #16 project to get “the most bang for our buck” to finish #10, as the engineer termed it.  

The bridge that carries #16 over a ravine, a little north of Taylors Falls,  will still be replaced this summer (2024) out of a separate funding pot.  

Commissioner Greene argued the county road is “bad” and  also is the sole access to a large business – Wild Mountain Ski & Recreation Area.  He questioned if a project on the improvement plan for County Road 72 could be eliminated to redirect some of that funding to the #16 needs.

Triplett commented that with the nice weather, the contractor on #10 is “chomping at the bit” and he will bring an award for the County Board to act on in early March. (Preliminary review shows Peterson Companies is the apparent low bid.)

Triplett promised he will monitor upcoming line item budgets and should any projects come in with any savings he’ll try to find a way for possibly moving #16 up in the long range transportation plan.  At this time #16 is in the plan for 2028.

The 2024 improvements include four mill-and-overlays for 2024 part of #72, 23, 22 from the freeway to Anoka County line,  and 34 south of #19...tree clearing on #10 from CSAH 8 to county line and the Highway 10 reconstruction.

The County Board also set a date for a public hearing to review and act on restrictions to cannabis use in public areas.  Cities in the county have taken up this issue and mostly have opted to prohibit marijuana use in city parks, and other public properties, etc.   

The public hearing on cannabis uses is at the Government Center March 20,  at 7 p.m.  You may file written comment— contact the administrator’s office for instructions at 651-213-8877.

Members of the Citizens Review Panel will be paid a $55 per diem.  The Board approved allocating a portion of the grant that supports the activity to be used as per diem payments, as allowed by the state.

The sale of the county public works building on Forest Blvd. (CSAH 30) in Rush City is still being evaluated.  County Engineer Triplett reported the oil storage tank issue is being looked at. Sale is not recommended now.

American Recovery Act monies are disappearing

The township merger increasing the size of the City of Stacy requires the sheriff’s office to buy equipment, which was approved for ARPA spend down.  The county will be reimbursed by Stacy, the Board was told. For two outfitted cars, body cameras, radios and computer equipment the start up costs are estimated at $170,856.

Encryption and VPN costs for squad cars department-wide are also being covered with ARPA.

• The security camera at the Chisago Lakes Library is slated for replacement, also approved as an ARPA item.

• Miscues caused a failure to pay unemployment insurance to the state revenue department, so the Board approved using ARPA balance to make the overdue payment.

And, a state grant program SHIP that flows through the county was approved, for $5,100 for the new disc golf course to be developed at sewer commission-owned land north of Chisago City.

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