Commission approves repairs for several ditches

By Anna Jauhola
In a brief special meeting prior to the regular meeting on Tuesday, July 17, the Kittson County Commissioners approved three ditch repairs and a bridge repair.
Assistant County Engineer Keith Klegstad presented the needed repairs, all of which were related to sloughing on the ditches, and quotes for the projects.
“We had an unbelievable amount of interest in all these projects, which was great to see,” Klegstad said.
County Ditch 19 in Svea Township is developing sloughing that is affecting CSAH 23, a gravel road. The commissioners approved the low quote for the project of $6,733.50 from Ralph Twamley Construction, Drayton. The Ditch 19 account currently has a balance of $43,855.
County Ditch 25 runs alongside CSAH 13, another gravel road in Skane Township in Section 3. There is embankment sloughing the highway department has fixed before.
“We are under the advice of the watershed to try a different approach with all these repairs. We’ll be stepping the slope down and putting in a geogrid to lock it in place after putting the embankment back in,” Klegstad said. “They have done it with success, so we are trying it.”
The low quote for this work was approved at $15,882 from Anderson Excavating, Newfolden. County Ditch 25 has a balance of $14,241, but will also collect a levy this year of $2,500 so the cost will be covered.
County Ditch 27 in Skane Township, section 21, is eroding on the south slope and affecting a section of CRP. The low quote was approved and came in again from Ralph Twamley Construction at $14,010. County Ditch 27 has a balance of $27,723.
Finally, the commission approved replacing the existing riprap on Bridge 95988 along County Ditch 19 in Svea Township, and put additional riprap on the opposite end of the bridge. They will use class 3 fractured riprap to ensure it stays in place. Davidson Construction’s quote was lowest at $19,400. Klegstad said they will use equipment rental funds to cover his cost.