Commissioners sign resolution to advance federal aid road project

Thursday, December 20, 2012

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Red Willow County, Nebraska, commissioners Wednesday afternoon signed a resolution to expedite a federal aid project that will help pay for a six-inch-thick asphalt overlay on County Road 386 from the north end of East 11th at the City of McCook limits to the county's four-way intersection 2 1/2 miles north.

Federal aid for highways is ending soon, said commission chairman Earl McNutt. "This is the last chance for the county to get something with federal aid funding. We'll never see a project of this magnitude again."

Fellow commissioner Vesta Dack, in whose district the project lies, said the federal aid project "is a very good thing, saving the county lots of money," by eliminating maintenance on the county's existing armor-coated road.

The project will cost the federal government $1,462,901.39. The county's share is 20 percent, about $292,500.

The bid was awarded Dec. 13 to Paulsen Inc. of Cozad, Nebraska.

Commissioners signed the resolution during a special meeting called to meet a Jan. 2 deadline from the Nebraska Department of Roads.


In updates on two other county issues, McNutt said that the resignation of the county's health department director will be on commissioners' agenda Dec. 31.

Darcey Hansen presented her letter of resignation to commissioners Monday, Dec. 17, telling them she wants to spend more time with her family and with the TeamMates mentoring program which she coordinates for McCook Public Schools.

Hansen's resignation is effective Jan. 31, although she said she will be available to help with the training of a new director. .

McNutt said that, at their Dec. 31 meeting, commissioners will discuss "hiring another health department director or not."

McNutt also said Wednesday afternoon the county's new jail project is still in the works after commissioners terminated a construction manager contract with Sampson Construction in October.

McNutt said that architects Prochaska and Associates are working with the two "also rans" to see if those companies are still interested in building the county's new jail.

A Sampson Construction representative told commissioners on Oct. 22 that Sampson cannot build the jail as the plans are drawn and stay within the county's $4.3 million construction budget.

The other firms interviewed for the position in May were RaDec of Hartington, Nebraska, and Beckenhauer Construction Inc. of Norfolk, Nebraska.

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