Editor
Gary Meyer
The Orrock Twp. Board Wednesday approved the contract of a bituminous company for crack filling and seal coating of various township roads this summer.
Allied Blacktop submitted the low bid of $205,525 for the work; a higher bidder was from Asphalt Technologies.
The board also reached agreement with Big Lake Twp. for their joint renovation project on a 1.26-mile stretch of 229th Ave., their common boundary line.
That project will go out to bids in the coming weeks. The townships will share equally in the construction costs.
Engineer Mike Nielson also reported plans for the renovation of two roads - 168th Street and 233rd Ave., will go back to the DNR for a final approval before that work is set.
Snow Plowing Policy
Orrock residents at their recent annual meeting overwhelmingly approved a new slow plowing policy, which the board reviewed briefly Wednesday.
Residents want snowplowing to begin when one inch of snow-ice is accumulated on roads, then for another plowing after four inches of accumulation in a continuing storm.
But the board tabled the issue, because Supervisors Bryan Adams and Bob Hassett were absent; they wanted the full board to take a final action on the proposal.
Current policy is to plow at two inches accumulation, then again after six inches of snow has fallen.
Township roads took a beating this winter because of several smaller snowfalls and ice buildup. It was the biggest issue for the assembly at their annual meeting.
Heritage Trails
Bev Aubol, who with her family is developer of Heritage Trails 4th and 5th Additions, appeared before the board to secure approval for buildout of lots within those additions.
But there is a developers agreement requiring roads be extended as part of the development.
She asked the board and engineer provide guidelines for those road buildouts and they will proceed at some time in the future.
Heritage Trails lies off 188th Street and 249th Ave.
In Other Action
In other action Wednesday, the board:
* Met with Tim Mueller of Raimis Construction and approved his revised request for two setback variances for work on an Eagle Lake site;
* Approved participation in the Big Lake-Orrock recycling day Sat., May 18, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Only recyclable items will be accepted. The recycling will be at the Big Lake Twp. maintenance garage on 166th Street;
* Heard from Cpt. Steve Doran on March activity. He reported 137 calls from the township; nothing major. There were however eight automobile crashes, due to snowy conditions;
* Heard from Supervisor Corrie Silverberg that Zimmerman Fire Dept. will likely break ground for their new fire hall on Co. Rd. 4 in the spring of 2020. It is proposed for six bays for the fire department and possibly two more for the DNR. Orrock receives fire service for its easternmost sections from Zimmerman;
* Road weight restrictions will be set at five tons/axel during the spring;
* The Orrock Board of Equalization is April 10 at 4 p.m.’
* Residents can have water nitrate testing at the Big Lake Farmers Market June 26 and Aug. 14.
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