County garage to stay in use in Kettle River

After much study and citizen input, the Carlton County transportation department has decided to keep the Kettle River county garage open as a base of operations for the area’s grader.

Commissioner Gary Peterson recently attended a Split Rock Township board meeting with more than 15 people in the audience. “Not one person there thought the closure of the Kettle River garage was a good idea,” Peterson said. “I am glad that it has worked out to keep the garage open. My constituents support that action.”

The county’s Barnum garage is being upgraded and expanded to provide room for equipment that continues to increase in size as the years go by. The old shop has been gutted, and renovation work is continuing in that section of the project. Construction work is ahead of schedule. It had been feared that contaminated soil would be found at the construction site and cause costly mitigation, but no contamination was found.

Plans had been considered to make space for the Kettle River grader at the new Barnum garage and close the Kettle River facility for the following reasons:

1. Worker safety was considered because Kettle River is a one-person shop and the safety of the worker is first priority.

2. Machinery has been upgraded since the building was built in the 1970s and current machinery is more efficient and cost-effective to run longer distances.

3. There are continuing operating costs for equipment and utilities for a single-worker operation.

“We understand that residents are worried that their level of service would be diminished,” wrote Carlton County engineer JinYeene Neumann in a letter to be sent out to the Kettle River area. “We apologize for not communicating better with residents on this issue. This was not our intent.”

In other county news:

• The state bonding bill has not passed the Minnesota Legislature; it includes potential money for the Highway 210 waterline from the city of Carlton to the Interstate 35 business area. The House of Representatives proposal funds the whole anticipated cost of $10.5 million, and the Senate version comes in at $9 million. Negotiations continue.

• More than $61,000 has been expended on general operating supplies for the county’s response to COVID-19. Costs continue to mount. The state legislature is expected to disburse $2 to $3 million in federal funds for costs to the county due to the pandemic.

• The county will host a virtual public meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 17 regarding the proposed design for the 14th Street reconstruction project in Cloquet, tentatively scheduled for the 2021-22 construction seasons.

The meeting will include audio and visual information and residents can use the a web link to attend: global.goto meeting.com/join/8779 66653.

Residents can also attend by phone at 866-899-4679. Once connected, enter access code 877-966-653. The meeting will also be recorded and available for replay on the county’s website at http://www.co.carlton.mn.us. People will be able to ask questions at certain times during the meeting, although not during presentations.

Call the County Transportation Department at 218-384-9150.