Goodhue County Board briefs

Board tables issue involving Fitzgerald Excavating

The Goodhue County Board decided it needed some more information about its dealings with Goodhue company Fitzgerald Excavating before awarding Fitzgerald a contract for an upcoming grading project. The board met in Kenyon Tuesday morning.

Fitzgerald had a low bid of $582,189 for a grading project of County Road 168 from Highway 60 to 52, but the bid wasn’t enough to have commissioners convinced the company was the right choice.

“The county has had some issues with him complying with conditional-use permits,” county clerk Andrea Benck explained.

For that reason, commissioners voted to table the matter to its May 15 meeting, giving the Public Works Department a chance to talk with Land-use Management and make sure Fitzgerald Excavating is currently in compliance with everything it needs to be.

Kasson company earns construction contract

Commissioners voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve a bid from Swenke Co. Inc., of Kasson, Minn., for a construction project in Zumbrota Township.

The project is the construction of a culvert and approach grading in Zumbrota Township on 180th Avenue. It is being constructed with Township, State Town Bridge and FEMA funds.

Swenke was one of seven companies the County Board could have chosen. It had the lowest bid at $125,825.

Sheriff cleared to hire three jail employees

The board voted to fill a vacancy in the Adult Detention Center, as well as add two positions to the ADC’s full-time staff.

“Our numbers a year ago were so low, and now we’re the opposite,” county clerk Andrea Benck said about the detainee population at the Goodhue County ADC.

Commissioner Ted Seifert wondered whether the two new positions could be filled for just six months and the situation could be revisited after that, but upon learning it takes about four to five months just to train an employee the board decided that would not be feasible.

Meeting watch

Tuesday's board meeting lasted 1 hour. Commissioner Jim Bryant was absent.

— Compiled by Regan Carstensen, staff writer

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