Nicollet County

Board joins others in

support of Hwy. 169

Resolutions seek support,

suggest improvements

By CHANCE PRIGGE

Journal Staff Writer

ST. PETER, Minn. -- The Nicollet County Board passed a resolution Tuesday accepting, supporting and adopting the Highway 169 Interregional Corridor Management Plan.

The plan intends to continually preserve U.S. Highway 169's functions as it passes through and provides an important lifeline for Nicollet County cities, such as St. Peter and North Mankato, by improving the highway as well as the land and connecting roads around it.

Nicollet County Engineer Mike Wagner said the resolution doesn't set a timeline but instead exists to get cities and counties "on base" in support of something long-term for the highway.

The Board also passed a related motion that opposes a bypass in St. Peter and that supports the resolutions on the plan approved by North Mankato and St. Peter.

In an executive summary of the plan, the Minnesota Department of Transportation mentioned several improvements, strategies and studies for the highway.

One suggested improvement would be adding left-turn lanes at all access points in high-speed areas or restricting access points to right-in and right-out.

It also suggests elevating the highway in areas that are prone to flooding or adding flap gates or other barriers to limit flooding and reducing the number of days the highway is out of service.

Another suggestion involves local agencies ensuring adequate frontage or backage roads are being developed along the highway in the areas transitioning to a freeway.

To make improvements on the highway, the plans say, two things should happen.

First, the plan's supporters and MnDOT should educate citizens and businesses about the long-term vision, addressing issues such as funding and interim improvements that could mitigate concerns.

Secondly, supporters and MnDOT should pursue additional scoping and environmental studies on high-priority issues.

The plan, which encompasses the highway from Interstate 494 in the Twin Cities to Highway 60, resulted after a year-long study to define a long-term vision for the highway.

In other county business, the commissioners heard from Wagner about one of two houses at the entrance of Nicollet County's Seven Mile Creek Park. The south house has a failed septic system, which is seeping from its south side toward the park's creek.

The County Park Board has wanted to own both houses as park property, but funding has prevented such action. Craig Bartelt, the house's owner, has told the Board of Commissioners he's willing to sell the house. The county attorney will get an appraisal for the house.

The house could be used as the park's maintenance facility. It is on high ground, unlike the current maintenance facility, which is frequently flooded.

Wagner said a number of agencies have been contacted to help buy the house. The Carl and Verna Schmidt Foundation, from which Wagner has applied for a grant, is the first place that has made the opportunity a possibility, Wagner said.

"There's nothing going on now for the north house," Wagner said.

The Board also:

* Heard from Tom Meium of U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone's office. Meium discussed Fort Road (Nicollet County Road 5) funding, a 23-mile stretch that needs fixing, he said.

"This one we can't save," Wagner said. "We've got to reconstruct."

Board Chair James Stenson said he was upset with the Minnesota Legislature for not giving funding to the road.

* Approved an out-of-state travel request from Veterans Services officer Hank Sadler. He will attend the annual National Convention of the Disabled Veterans from Aug. 8 to Aug. 16 in Dallas. The Disabled American Veterans will cover the expenses.