County supports Hwy. 169 plan

SE dredge

deal goes

back to council

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- With hopes of improving traffic flow on U.S. Highway 169 between Mankato and the Metro area, Brown County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday supporting preservation of the U.S. Highway 169 Corridor Plan.

On a motion by Richard Seeboth, seconded by James Berg, commissioners approved the plan for 169 from Trunk Highway 60 in Blue Earth County to Interstate 494.

Potential issues for discussion with the Highway 169 Corridor Management Team include a St. Peter by-pass and North Mankato interchange.

The vision of the 169 corridor study is for travelers to average 65 mph between Mankato and Highway 494. Improvements must be made in the next few years such as new interchanges at the intersections of I-494 and State Highway 41, south of Shakopee.

"Highway 169 is one of the true backbones of the region's transportation system," said Region Nine Development Commission Director of Planning Development and Finance Wesley W. Judkins in a letter to Brown County Commissioner Richard Seeboth. "It carries a huge volume of people and goods to the Twin Cities. It also carries much of our grain to the Savage barge terminals. It is of the utmost importance to the region to keep this roadway flowing smoothly."

The District 7 Office of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction of 169 as far north at State Highway 19, has tried to limit stop lights and minimize the number of entrances the four-lane highway.

Due to safety concerns an interchange will be built at the 169 and 19 intersection that will separate the crossing road from the main highway.

The Metro District Office of MnDOT handles 169 north of Highway 19. It does not consider limiting stop lights and entrances on 169 as a priority item, according to resolution background material.

The future doesn't look good for opponents of more stoplights and entrances on 169. Belle Plaine has asked MnDOT for seven stoplights on 169 which would slow traffic and make the road hazardous, according to resolution background material.

The board unanimously approved resolutions:

* Revising the revised agreement with the City of Sleepy Eye on the sale of the dredge and related equipment for $85,000.

The sticking point is who will pay for the $5,000-$10,000 cost of moving the dredge from Lake Hanska to Sleepy Eye Lake. The Sleepy Eye City Council previously approved a resolution asking the county to cover moving costs.

After lengthy discussion with Sleepy Eye Mayor Jim Broich, and councilors Gary Windschitl, Wayne Novotny, and Joann Schmidt, Charles Guggisberg suggested moving costs be split between Brown County and the City of Sleepy Eye. The resolution was approved.

The Sleepy Eye City Council will consider the offer at its April 2 meeting.

"I think we found a compromise," Sleepy Eye City Manager Mark Kober said. "I think the Council will accept the deal. We don't know just when the dredge will be moved yet."

Dredging operation equipment includes a 1984 Billy Goat dredge; 5,000 feet of 10-inch diameter HDPE discharge pipe; a work boat; 1968 GMC 6-wheel-drive wrecker truck; 1998 Alumacraft Jon boat with 25 hp Johnson outboard motor; and a portable work site station. All equipment is in "as is" condition. The county offer must be accepted by April 4.

The county agrees to allow rent-free use of its fusion machine and generator with Sleepy Eye responsible for maintenance and operation costs.

The county will retain $70,000 in the County Park Fund for appropriation to Sleepy Eye on a 50-50 match of needed revenues if Sleepy Eye Lake dredging operations proceed. Sleepy Eye has yet to receive state and federal dredging permits.

* For the purchase of a new Brown County Family Services/Heartland Express Bus under the 2002 MnDOT Cooperative Vehicle Procurement process. The purchase price with options from Minnesota Body & Equipment Co. is $46,936 minus a $1,0000 Mobility Motoring Rebate.

* The Probation Director to sign a $28,222 Families First Grant and increase the Teen Court Coordinator's hours from 25 to 30 hours.

Commissioner Don Wellner reported on Monday's RCRCA annual meeting in Springfield. Wellner said farmers in the Cottonwood River Watershed are eligible for 75 percent funding for contractors to replace open intakes with rock inlets to reduce sediment input into the Minnesota River.

Those interested should contact the U.S. Soil & Water Conservation District Office in Sleepy Eye for reimbursement forms.