IVANHOE — The Lincoln County Board heard a road report from its engineers Tuesday that involved cutting off a portion of property owned by a farmer.

County engineer Dave Halbersma showed a PowerPoint presentation indicating the choices of re-routing County Road 7, which would take it across a farmer’s land. However, straightening the curves would help reduce accidents as well as allowing for a speed increase to either 55 mph or 60 mph as opposed to the 40-45 mph on the current curves, he said.

Halbersma said he had visited with the owners about the prospective 60 mph road, and immediately, the farmer said “no” because of how it cut into his property.

Then, he was asked about the 55 mph version that took much less of a cut, and after two weeks of thinking about it, the farmer still wasn’t keen on the idea.

Halbersma said that it would be up to the board if it wanted to force the issue (by claiming eminent domain) and left it in its hands.

In other action:

• Halbersma presented the bids received for the Chevrons and Pavement Markings project. The engineer’s estimate was $252,984.30. The winning bid was from Traffic Marking Service Inc. for $152,803.43, which was 39.6 percent under estimate.

There were three other bids. Century Fence Company’s bid of $168,353.05 was 33.45 percent under estimate. AAA Striping Service Co. offered a bid of $169,757.05, which was 32.9 percent under estimate. The fourth bid, from Swanston Equipment Co, had come in at $247,600.22, which was 2.13 percent under estimate.

The board approved unanimously to accept the lowest bid as recommended by their engineer.

• Halbersma also reported the EDF-Red Pine Wind Project was ready to proceed. The board moved to sign the agreement with Red Pine Wind Farm on the condition that the county attorney approves it.

• In the Environmental Office report, Administrator Robert Olsen was able to tell the board that the Curly Leaf Pondweed (CLP) treatment on Lake Benton had been done at a cost of $26,000.

Olsen also requested that a $35 per month cell phone allowance be given his new employee, Dallas Cornell. The board approved unanimously.

• Under other business, Commissioner Joe Drietz was unanimously nominated to the Yellow Medicine County Watershed Advisory Board.