IVANHOE — The Lincoln County Board joined other area counties in support of improvements on Minnesota Highway 23 that go beyond the current state proposal.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the board voted to endorse a full reconstruction of the highway between Marshall and Interstate 90 near Luverne. An mill and overlay project is scheduled for the 2024 construction season.

Commissioner Mic VanDeVere of Tyler brought a resolution to the full board. He said the same action has taken place in other counties along the highway; including Lyon, Pipestone and Rock counties.

He said a full reconstruction would allow for the installation of a new concrete road base. It would match upgrades that have been made to sections of Highway 23 that are located northeast of the planned construction zone.

“It would be good if the state considers doing more than just patching up our section,” VanDeVere said. “A concrete base would cost more, but there would be savings on long term maintenance. It would lead to a consistent road surface throughout the state, all the way to I-90.”

In other business the board discussed the county-wide need for compliance with state buffer zone laws, a process that’s been delayed by a late spring in 2019 and excessive rain in both of the two most recent construction seasons.

County Environmental Officer Robert Olsen said 15 landowners are at this point out of compliance. The buffer zone law mandates protective plantings next to surface waters.

“We haven’t been pressuring anyone with it because in most cases weather conditions didn’t allow for buffer zone projects,” Olsen said. “This is the third year of the process. It’s important at this point to at least have a definite improvement plan in place.”

He said this winter’s notification process is intended to enlist the voluntary cooperation of landowners. The state’s penalty for non-compliance, known as an Administrative Penalty Order, would not be applied until the fall of 2021.

“Most landowners have at least responded,” Olsen said. “If everything goes as scheduled, we should be down to only a small handful by this spring.”

Commissioner Joe Drietz said he’s willing to talk with landowners about the need to meet state buffer regulations, and to let them know that technical assistance is available to make buffer construction as cost effective as possible.”

“The important thing is to have a plan,” Drietz said. “There’s no way of getting penalized unless it’s a situation where there’s no response at all.”

Olsen also informed the board about a county-wide survey of emergency 911 address signs, which will identify signs that are in need of replacement.

Some of the signs that were put in place as part of 1990s rural 911 address conversions have deteriorated from long term wear to the point of not being readable from the roadside. A total cost for replacements will depend on the survey results.

“They’ve gradually faded, especially on the sides that face the sun,” Olsen said. “It’s reached the point that they can’t be read even at close range.”

He said the survey process will offer a good opportunity to also check intersection signs for county roads. Signs will be replaced if they’ve faded or if they’ve sustained damage.

Lincoln County Highway Engineer Joe Wilson informed the board that costs for winter sand applications on county roads have gone beyond the long-term average due to a pattern of thawing and freezing conditions.

A total of 2,100 tons of sand has been applied thus far, more than the average of about 1,600 tons. The county still has 1,700 more tons available.

“We should still have enough to get through the winter,” Wilson said. “It’s reached the point that we’re trying to use it sparingly. The drivers are blading down the intersections whenever that’s possible.”