There may have been a few flurries in the air this week, but snowmobiles were a topic at this week’s Mower County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Thursday, December 16, 1999

There may have been a few flurries in the air this week, but snowmobiles were a topic at this week’s Mower County Board of Commissioners meeting.

County Engineer Michael Hanson won the board’s approval of hiring Tom Soltau to operate the county’s snowmobile trail grooming machine this winter and for the county to sponsor a request for funding for the snowmobile trail system to be submitted by the Mower County Trail Management Committee. The county currently receives $13,000 for snowmobile trail work.

Also, Hanson told the county board members Tuesday that Jeff Ellis, a Red Rock Township resident, has asked for the county’s assistance in replacing a possibly unsafe bridge over a waterway between Mower County 24 and Highway 56 northeast of Austin.

Ellis’ driveway crosses Dobbins Creek and the bridge is in need of repairs, according to Hanson. Because there are larger bridges both upstream and downstream from the Ellis bridge, the new bridge must be built to conform with the existing two bridges to ensure adequate water flowage.

The driveway and bridge over Dobbins Creek are the only access to Ellis’ residence.

Richard P. Cummings, First District commissioner and county board chair, and Hanson will conduct an on-site investigation and return with a formal recommendation to the county board.

Also, the county commissioners endorsed Hanson’s suggestion that he remain in close contact with city of Austin officials about the construction of a new street off 18th Avenue NW by the city to accommodate the relocation of Cooperative Response Center.

The action is necessary, because the county is planning a major reconstruction project for 18th Avenue NW.