County Highway 11 from south of Grove City to the western city limits of Litchfield will be resurfaced this summer with Knife River Co. awarded the contract at Tuesday’s Meeker County Board meeting. 

Knife River’s bid of $1.18 million was the low among three received on a combination of projects that also includes work on County Highway 18 and a number of smaller township projects.

Also awarded at Tuesday’s meeting were contracts for seasonal fuel needs by county equipment. Consumer’s Co-op of Litchfield will supply the fuel needs to 10 County Highway Department sheds at a low bid of $52,000, the lowest of three received. Jack’s Oil of Eden Valley had a bid of $52,337. Consumer’s Co-op will also provide the fuel needs of Meeker County Sheriff’s Office.

In other business

Commissioners approved the installation of a security planter barricade in an area at the southwest corner of Meeker County Courthouse, where there is current accessibility to county offices. Barricades will be purchased from Bohlmann Inc. of Denison, Iowa, at a cost of $6,070.
County Highway Engineer Ron Mortensen reported concerns that some county farmers are planting closer to road right of ways and, in some cases, actually encroaching.
County Board approved an expression of support for the Heartland Community Action Agency in its work to reduce homelessness in the area.
Jason Haug, Heartland Outreach worker, reported that in the past two years the agency has helped 40 families who were falling behind in rent payments with some $40,000 assistance.
In personnel related matters, County Board approved the re-appointment of Greg Jans to the County Planning Commission and named Al Anderson as a new member replacing Wes Nelson who had served on the commission for 15 years.