By Sara Quam
Construction plans were discussed at Tuesday's Rock County Board meeting, presided over by new chair Ken Hoime.
County Engineer Mark Sehr proposed a five-year road construction plan, which was approved, and Glenda Bremer, librarian, and Virgil Christensen, consultant, showed plans for updating the library.
Sehr's five-year plan addresses about 50 road and bridge construction sites. He said, "By 2005, we should be pretty well caught up."
The county has been working on almost 10 projects a year, and after 2005, should be down to two or three. Construction during 2001 could be as costly as $3.9 million, but state and federal funding will pay for the majority of costs.
The 2001 construction plans call for work on the following:
¥County State Aid Highway 2, from CSAH 7 to CSAH 10
¥CSAH 33 (Lincoln Street in Luverne) from Cedar Street to Blue Mound Avenue
¥CSAH 6 from Highway 270 to CSAH 4
¥CSAH 7 from Highway 75 to South Dakota
¥CSAH 5 from Highway 23 to South Dakota
¥CSAH 17 100 feet south of CSAH 4
¥CSAH 15 Bridge 9416 1.7 miles west of CSAH 3
¥Township 89 .75 miles south of CSAH 16 in Magnolia Township
¥Various township road bridge replacements.
Library gets updates
The library received $93,000 from Florence Sodeman's estate after her death in 1999. She had earmarked the money for basement renovations, something the Library Board also named as a priority.
The facelift will include improving the rest rooms, general appearance of the lower level and work on the meeting room - which is used about 40 to 50 times a month.
The building itself is handicap accessible and includes an elevator, but the rest rooms will be updated to meet codes. Diaper changing tables will be added to the women's and possibly men's bathrooms as well.
If there is money left over, the library's entrance may get an automatic door opener for those in wheelchairs. Although the entrances are handicap accessible, the convenience could improve the entrances and exits for library patrons.
The project is expected to cost less than $75,000, and bids will be advertised in February.