Weatherman was tough on county roads
This past year was not easy on Lyon County roads.
On Tuesday, Lyon County Engineer Aaron VanMoer presented the Lyon County Highway Department’s annual report on the maintenance activities, construction and flood repairs. According to VanMoer, this spring the highway department had to hire dozers to push drifts back. They hired two companies for one week at $63,000.
He also said there were considerable flooding repairs including: —Snow melt in March — closed numerous roads and re-graveled washouts.
Led to FEMA declaration claiming approximately $100,000 in FEMA reimbursable expenses. —Still haven’t received any payments for the 2018 FEMA event ($185,000). —May 17 rain event — numerous roads were closed with gravel road and shoulder washouts. This was outside the FEMA incident period. —July 5th rain event — more roads were closed with washout and culvert repairs. This also was NOT a FEMA event. There were also several miles of crack sealing: —County Road 10: eight miles. —County Road 9: 10 miles.
—County Road 11: 10 miles. —County Road 6: five miles. —County Road 5: three miles.
Other projects that needed attention were: —Approximately 100 miles of re-graveling county roads; Large number of frost boil fixes during spring road restrictions. —About 45 miles of seal coat (and striping); — Shouldering on 34 miles of county roads.
—Hauled and spread gravel at Twin Lakes Park. —Asphalt patching that included sand mix for 8.5 miles on County Road 13 and County Road 5; several fixed potholes and other additional spots on county roads.
The maintenance to-do list includes: ditch cleaning, culvert repairs and replacements; water retention repairs; island lake equalizer culvert on County Road 13; tree trimming; stockpile gravel; stockpile sand; tree spraying and mowing.
VanMoer reported construction projects included: Lynd; the courthouse parking lots and City of Balaton half mile. —Grading of 4.5 miles of County Road 3 north of Minneota. —Completion of three bridges in Camden State Park. —Bridge replacement and J-turn on County Road 7 and Highway 23.
—Bridge repair on County Road 65 east of Ghent and —Paving of twenty-four miles and parking lot. Bituminous overlay was done on County Road 83 at Camden State Park; County Road 14 at Tracy; County Road 25 at Lynd; the courthouse parking lots and City of Balaton half mile. Bituminous reclamation base one stabilization and new surface including culvert lining was done on 4.9 miles of County Road 24; 4.75 miles of County Road 8; four miles of County Road 13 and six miles of County Road 14. VanMoer also said the new street signs, to replace worn out road signs, have not been replaced yet. The extra projects have delayed the sign project.