The Polk County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, June 3, at 8:00 a.m. at the Government Center in Crookston.
Planning and Zoning – Jacob Snyder
The first item on the agenda for Snyder on Tuesday was a resolution seeking approval of a Conditional Use Permit for Abe Bontrager “Abuilt Construction” to operate a prefabricated shed & log cabin business out of an existing 60’x100’ (6,000 sq. ft. ) accessory structure with conditions. “The applicant is looking at constructing prefabricated sheds and or log cabins on the site, in a shop, and then delivering them to places that are patronizing his business,” says Snyder. “This is located just east of Fertile, and it was approved today with several conditions.” Some of the conditions listed were keeping the completed houses off of the County Highway right-of-ways, and set back while they are awaiting delivery. The board voted unanimously in favor of approving the Conditional Use Permit to Abuilt Construction.
Snyder’s second item was a resolution requesting approval for a Conditional Use Permit for Dennis & Sherry Coauette for hooking a new septic system to an existing accessory structure on their property at Maple Lake. “That request was approved today to tie an existing accessory building to a septic system,” says Snyder. “It would also allow them to update their cabin’s septic on the front lot as well, since there is so limited green space on the front lot.” Snyder mentioned that there is acreage being the accessory building lending more than sufficient space for the new septic system, and tying the cabin and accessory building to that system will also help correct a proximity issue with their well. “We had some well isolation distance issues too with their well being so close to their existing septic system,” says Snyder. “We want to make sure we are checking all of those boxes and making sure they are meeting all of their setbacks when we are trying to tie in that cabin. We will do our homework, sharpen our pencils, we’ve got a good plan.” The Conditional Use Permit was approved unanimously by the board.
Social Services – Victoria Ramirez
Social Services Manager Victoria Ramirez’s first item was a motion to approve filling the open Office Support Specialist position, along with any subsequent internal position vacancies that may occur because of this action. The board unanimously approved filling the position.
Ramirez then updated the board on the Family Resource Center’s open in Polk County and provided a video to show the effect of these centers on the community. “The video was really to share awareness that the Polk County Family Resource Centers are in Polk County and help reach families that maybe could use some support and services,” says Ramirez. “Some of the people in the video, some of them are parents that we have helped that also are part of our Parent Advisory Committee, and some are just parents who come and utilize the services.”
There are five Family Resource Centers in Polk County. There is a pop-up location at the Crookston Public Library as well as a new Center at Washington School. There are also Centers in East Grand Forks, Fertile, and Fosston. For more information on the Family Resource Center locations, hours of operation, and services, Ramirez says to visit their website at www.co.polk.mn.us/frc
Polk County Highway Department – Richard Sanders
County Engineer Rich Sanders had multiple items to present to the board on Tuesday, beginning with a resolution approving the retirement of Kenneth Sannes Jr. from the Highway Department. Sannes has been with the department for 23-plus years. “We had the board pass a resolution approving his retirement with regrets and thanking him for his years of service,” says Sanders. “That is something that the previous County Engineer started, and we’ve just continued to do that for all of our retirees. It’s just an honor to present that to them at their retirement.” Sanders shared that he will have the resolution printed on a scroll to be given to Sannes.
The second item for Sanders was to ask the board to approve advertising and hiring two Engineering Technician vacancies. Two techs have recently submitted their resignations, and the board approved advertising and filling the positions.
Next up were a couple of County Ditch Maintenance Requests. One of them was to approve work in County Ditch 110 to put in a new Field Approach. The Highway Department will size the culvert for the landowner, and the landowner will install it at their own cost. The second was a petition to clean County Ditch 1. Richard Sanders would be the Engineer over the projects. The board unanimously approved the two ditch projects.
Sanders also brought a motion to approve the purchase of one Mack truck from RDO Truck Center, LLC of Fargo, ND, for $142,279.37. On September 5, 2023, the board approved the purchase of three Tandem Axle Diesel Trucks. The first two were Westernstars. The final truck, a Mack, has been built and delivered to Bert’s for snow plow equipment. The estimated cost for the third and final truck was $150,000, and the final price was $142,279.37. When asked how the overall budget fared for the three trucks, Sanders told the board it was pretty much spot on, as the two Westernstars came in just over budget a little bit, so with the Mack coming in under budget, the Department met budget for the trucks. The board unanimously approved to pay for the third and final truck.
The next two items were motions to approve awarding the contract for Bituminous Overlays ahead of what they were on the schedule. “We let some Bituminous Overlays two to three years early because we had heard that counties were coming in with really good bituminous prices and there wasn’t a whole lot of work out there.”
The first contract was for bituminous overlays on Hwy 13, from Hwy 11 to Hwy 17 north and east of Crookston, Hwy 21 from the roundabout to the East County Line, and Hwy 66 from Hwy 21 up to the North County Line, along with Marshall County’s half extension of that roadway. “We were estimating that that contract was going to cost a little bit over $4.5 million, and the lowest responsible bidder was RJ Zavoral & Sons Inc. at $3.8 million,” says Sanders. “So, we saved about $700,000 on that project.”
The other contract that was let was the overlay of Hwy 6 from Hwy 3 up to Trunk Highway 92, north and east of Fosston, and Hwy 49 from Trunk Highway 32 to Hwy 12, north of Mentor. “We were estimating that contract to cost about $2.6 million,” says Sanders. “The lowest responsible bidder on that project was RJ Zavoral & Sons, Inc. at $1.9 million.” Overall, Polk County saved around $1.3 million by letting these projects early. The board approved unanimously to award both contracts to RJ Zavoral & Sons, Inc.
Sanders’ final item for the board on Tuesday was a resolution to advance County State Aid Regular Construction Funds to cover the two previous items. “Because we let all of those projects early we are spending about $4 million more than what we had in our current bank,” says Sanders. “We are advancing $3.8 million from future years’ construction funds up to 2025.” State Aid allows such advances, and this advance will total $3,833,372.52. The board approved the advance unanimously.
The last item on the board agenda for Tuesday’s meeting was the Presentation of the National Association of County Engineers’ Rural County Engineer of the Year Award to Richard Sanders. In attendance Tuesday to present the award were Wayne Sandberg, Public Works Director/County Engineer of Washington County, MN/NAE Secretary Treasurer, and Lyndon Robjent, Public Works Division Director, County Engineer, Carver County, MN/MCEA President. The award is one of four National Awards given by NACE yearly.
