Morrison County Board approves $308,032.75 Soo Line Trail surfacing contract; feedlot and wind-tower hearings ahead
Morrison County commissioners approved a $308,032.75 contract with Kowalczyk Gravel, Inc. to lay aggregate surfacing on the Soo Line Recreational Trail, the largest dollar item from the July 14 County Board meeting.
County Board of Commissioners — July 14
The board acted on its consent agenda and several separate resolutions. Final minutes have not yet been published, so the following reflects the agenda summary.
- **Soo Line Trail surfacing:** Approved Resolution#2026-050, awarding a $308,032.75 contract to Kowalczyk Gravel, Inc. for aggregate surfacing on the Soo Line Recreational Trail.
- **Vendor payments:** Approved Resolution#2026-049, designating all vendor payments as auditor warrants covering $13,898,656.32.
- **Northland Reliability Project:** Approved an Interim Use Permit for a temporary contractor storage yard associated with the project.
- **Licenses:** Approved new food-pool and lodging licenses for businesses including Lake Shamineau Lookout, Falls Bar, and Rising Loon Coffee.
- **Pavement markings:** Approved a final payment certificate for Sir Lines-A-Lot, LLC for 2026 pavement markings.
- **Personnel:** Recognized a retiring employee. No name was listed in the agenda summary.
Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment — July 7
Both bodies were scheduled to hold public hearings July 7 at the Government Center in Little Falls. Minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are not available.
Planning Commission items:
- David & Sara Brutscher — after-the-fact conditional use permit to expand to a Tier IV dairy feedlot in Ripley Township.
- Platte River Prairie LLC — conditional use permit to establish a mini-storage facility in Bellevue Township.
Board of Adjustment variance applications:
- Chad & Amy Kronbach — variance to separate a parcel that cannot support two Type I septics in Morrill Township.
- Christopher Nieland — after-the-fact variance to encroach on a side property line with an accessory structure in Scandia Valley Township.
- Gary & Sharon Justin — variance to exceed allowable dwellings on a parcel in Darling Township.
Coming up
Planning Commission — July 21 (Government Center, Little Falls). Public hearings are scheduled on three land-use applications:
- Interim use permit for a temporary meteorological tower in Hillman Township — Troy & Rebecca Kapsner / Swift Current Energy.
- Interim use permit for a temporary meteorological tower in Morrill Township — Keith & Monica Funt / Swift Current Energy.
- Conditional use permit for a Tier III hog feedlot in Buckman Township — Allandale Dairy Partnership.
The Board of Adjustment has no items listed for the July 21 meeting.