Look for Crow Wing county summer road projects to begin in May, June

BRAINERD — Two sets of road construction projects were approved by the Crow Wing County Board Tuesday, March 25.

The board authorized a contract with low-bidder Anderson Brothers Construction Co. for $8,897,463.11 for pavement reconditioning on County Highway 1, between County Highway 66 and Highway 6, for County Highway 2 between Highway 25 and the East County Line, for County Road 108 between County Highway 22 and County Highway 8, First Assessment District roads, city of Crosslake roads and city of Emily roads. Work is expected to begin on or after May 1 and be completed by Oct. 3. The bid was 8.63% below the engineer’s estimate.

The board also awarded a contract with low-bidder Asphalt Surface Technologies Corp. at $2,264,318.40 for pavement seal coating on county highways 1, 13,15, 16, 24, 32 and county roads 107, 109, 121 and 127, roads in the First Assessment District, cith of Lake Shore, Crosslake, and townships of Deerwood, Pelican and Ross Lake. Construction will begin on or after June 9 and be completed by Aug. 9. The bid was 12.76% below the engineer’s estimate.

In other business:

Personnel actions included promotions/movement of Sarah Stultz, administrative specialist senior, Community Services. Tracy Tjader-Benson, financial worker, departed the county.

Supported a gambling permit for Ducks Unlimited Garrison Wildlife Chapter on April 27 at Lonesome Pine in Bay Lake Township. Supported a gambling application for the Church of St. Mathias on June 29 at St. Mathias Park.

Accepted a $1,500 donation to the Mounted Patrol from the Nisswa Lions.

Noted abnormally warm winters in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 didn’t allow for many winter-only timber cutting to be completed. The permits are on three-year contracts to allow time to access frozen wetlands and get to harder-to-reach timber lands. The county reported this past winter allowed for many expiring contracts to be completed. Over half of the timber harvested in Minnesota occurs during a three-month period from early December through early March, the county reported. Two permits were eligible for extension and the county granted a one-year extension.

Authorized a direct sale of tax-forfeited land to the city of Brainerd for $1. The land went tax-forfeit in 1969. The land is a forested 36-acre parcel north of Bluff Avenue to the Mississippi River.

Contributed / Crow Wing County

Authorized a contract with low-bidder Thelen Heating and Roof Inc. for the Crow Wing County Jail roof replacement for a base bid of $482,000 and two alternatives for $16,300 and $70,000 for roof infill and added insulation.

Sheriff Eric Klang said they are working legislatively on the 2911 rules in state statute that covers policies and procedures related to jail facilities. Klang said as he’s been out in the community.

“I've had numerous people that have come up to me and thank me for, you know, for helping them out, for getting them put back on the right track,” Klang said. “And it's one of the advantages of being in law enforcement here for a long time in our community and all that. And that's just not me that they're thanking but they're also thanking the county. And that comes, really, comes from the top up,” Klang said to the board. “... I'm really kind of the face of the county — love it or hate it — and I get a chance to have folks talk to me and just say, you know, all the good things that are happening in Crow Wing County, and getting that comes from the top back, from you guys directly. So we appreciate your support and everything that we do here.”

Klang said they are getting closer to a contract with the U.S. Marshal’s Service about housing inmates in the county jail and hope to hear something in the next week or so.

Board Chair Steve Barrows recognized National Epilepsy Awareness Day noting three of his four sons had epilepsy and two passed away because of it.

“So I just want to make a note that that's an important date in my life and many people's lives who suffer from epilepsy,” Barrows said.

Barrows also congratulated Administrator Deborah Erickson, who was one of five women Brainerd High School graduates inducted into the 2025 Legendary Women Hall of Fame. Barrows noted Erickson, Class of 1991, joined the county’s assessor’s office in 1994 and served as president of the Minnesota Association of County Officers and Minnesota Associaton of County Auditors, Treasurers and Finance Officers. Erickson was recognized with the other inductees in a ceremony Thursday in Brainerd.

Erickson provided a senior management team report. Erickson described the team as working well together to create ideas to bring to the board to consider. Recent discussions included everything from how long to keep emails to employee compensation.

Erickson noted the county’s program for individuals on staff who may or may not be in a leadership role as a supervisor or manager, but who show a lot of potential as the county looks at growing talent from within the organization. Erickson spoke of the importance of giving those involved in the program a chance to use their skills. She also noted there are county employees who are not sure what every department does.

“So we are going to look at some ways that they, this lead group, could help to build that knowledge base, maybe create some quick fact-based articles or videos or things to help our internal staff learn more about our organization that ultimately can be talking points that can be used in their community as well,” Erickson said.

Renee Richardson, managing editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter @DispatchBizBuzz.