Commissioners and Birchdale Township Collaborate on Alcott Drive Project
- Debra Meyer-Myrum
- 12 minutes ago
- 1 min read
by Debra Meyer-Myrum
At the regular Todd County Commissioners meeting on December 2, Loren Fellbaum, Public Works engineer, and Jim Carstens, Birchdale Township supervisor, requested Todd County serve as the fiscal agent and engineer on behalf of Birchdale Township who is applying for 1.2 million from the State Local Road Improvement Funding (LRIF) to reclaim and repave two miles of Alcott Drive from the Stearns County Line to County State Aid Highway 15. The project is expected to cost 1.5 million and will be completed in 2026. Townships are required to have a county sponsor in order to apply for funding.
Minnesota townships can apply for funding support for transportation infrastructure projects on township roads as part of the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Local Road Improvement Program which has approximately $47,000,000 in bond funds (with a cap of $1,500,000 per project) available for constructing or reconstructing local roads in Fiscal Years 2026-2028. Carstens stated the township has increased the township road levy by 22% to cover projected road projects.
Jackie Bauer, administrator, stated the township has added pedestrian sidelines to the project. Pedestrian sidelines have been shown to calm drivers and slow them down.
Commissioner Noska asked what happens if they don’t get the grant.
Carstens stated they would move ahead with the project without the pedestrian sidelines. He also stated everything is in place for the project to move forward.
Commissioners approved the resolution of support for Birchdale Township...
