County searching for a new gravel supply
Board discusses needs as current pit reaches end of supply
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MARSHALL -- Tasks like maintaining Lyon County roads and culverts takes a lot of gravel -- thousands of tons each year. However, the county will need to start looking for new sources of the material, said Lyon County Highway Engineer Aaron VanMoer.
On Tuesday, VanMoer told Lyon County commissioners that the gravel pit the county currently gets its gravel from was running out of mineable material. After discussion, commissioners voted to move ahead with crushing the remaining gravel at the pit at an increased price from L&S Construction.
Discussion of county gravel supplies came up as VanMoer brought commissioners a proposed renewal of terms of Lyon County's lease agreement with L&S Construction for a gravel pit in Island Lake Township.
Lyon County's agreement with L&S goes back to 2012, and the terms of the lease agreement were eligible for renegotiation after 10 years, VanMoer said.
"They've been a great partner," VanMoer said.
However, the availability of gravel in the pit had changed.
"They're essentially out of material in that pit," he said.
The county needs about 40,000 tons of gravel per year, VanMoer said. The gravel is used to help maintain about 143 miles of gravel roads, as well as for purposes like culvert repair and shouldering paved roads.
VanMoer said L&S Construction was offering the county the limited gravel remaining in the pit, at a price of $5.50 per ton. That price was an increase from $2.65 a ton, he said.
It wasn't known exactly how much gravel was left in the pit, VanMoer said. However, he recommended that the county accept the new price and authorize removing the remaining gravel. The material could be crushed this fall.
"Moving forward, we're going to have to find another way to acquire gravel," he said.
The county could purchase gravel from other suppliers to meet the rest of its needs, VanMoer said. VanMoer said he thought the county could go out for bids next year for a 2025 gravel supply.
After discussion, county commissioners voted in favor of acquiring $175,000 worth of gravel for crushing from L&S Construction, at $5.50 a ton