On the road to recovery?

Talk about it

Tight finances and an aging system may force Goodhue County officials to switch their focus from making local roads safer each year to simply preserving them.

Public Works Director Greg Isakson asked commissioners Tuesday to consider a new road program that would emphasize paving instead of grading projects.

"Local government is going to look different in the coming years," Isakson said. "Our road program is going to have to morph a little bit to fit that new look."

Isakson said studies show Goodhue County has some of the worst roads in southeastern Minnesota. But he said there is not enough money to both maintain and make them safer.

Repaving roads helps improve their quality while regrading makes roads wider, improves sight distance and adds more shoulder room.

To avoid closing roads or turning them back to gravel, Isakson said the county over the next five years will need to resurface 48 miles of road more than 20 years old.

In addition, at least 105 miles of road should be regraded over the next 40 years.

"As we started putting these numbers together it was an interesting snapshot of where we are," Isakson said. "Are we keeping up? We're not."

Under the new philosophy, the county would spend $4.2 million annually over the next five years to complete the minimum paving and grading projects.

Officials have budgeted $4 million for the county's five-year road construction program but that includes levy money that may be reallocated as county officials struggle with how best to handle state aid cuts and levy mandates without cutting essential services or passing too much of the burden onto taxpayers.

Commissioners also must consider what a shift in philosophy would mean for projects that go beyond paving and grading.

Isakson said the plan does not include additional funds for important upgrades and expansions like the Highway 52 interchange.

That means commissioners will have to find other funding sources if those upgrades suddenly get the green light and receive federal funding.

"If you want to commit to something like this you're talking about bonding or eliminating other services," County Administrator Scott Arneson said.

Commissioners briefly discussed selling bonds Tuesday at the Committee of the Whole meeting. They asked Isakson to bring back possible bonding projects and scenarios to a meeting next month.

Isakson said commissioners could consider increasing the tax levy once the economy improves or turning responsibility for certain roads back to townships.

Commissioner Dan Rechtzigel said tax levy increases may not be the most fair or logical answer.

"The brutal truth is that if the cost of road construction continues to go up ... it is just almost impossible to put in levy increases that high to match that," Rechtzigel said.

While money is short, Isakson said the county could stretch its budget by experimenting with cheaper road construction options like thinner overlays on paving projects.

Roads would have shorter lifespans using less expensive methods, Isakson said, and would meet the minimum safety standards.

"Back in '60s through '80s there were a lot of new roads paved. Well, that chicken has come home to roost," Isakson said. "These roads have matured. They need something happening to them to keep their service alive."

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