County hires engineering consultant for project near Goodridge School

by April Scheinoha Reporter In the not-too-distant future, Pennington County will be improving two blocks around Goodridge School. At its meeting Tuesday, June 25, the Pennington County Board chose an engineering consultant to engineer and design the project slated for 2026. Commissioners chose HDR whose proposal cost $49,757. County Engineer Mike Flaagan said Houston Engineering had the other proposal, which would have cost $76,710. The county plans to reconstruct the two blocks on the south and east sides of Goodridge School. Flaagan’s Five-Year Road and Bridge Plan listed the estimated cost of the project at $500,000 with state aid covering the cost. Flaagan said the county project will coincide with the conclusion of the Goodridge School District’s building project. The district plans to renovate its existing building and construct new additions. The district plans to start construction on its project in summer 2025. Flaagan provided an update on the Kratka bridge project in rural Pennington County. He said approach panels were installed a week earlier. The bridge rails were poured the day of the County Board meeting. He expected grading work would soon start. By this week, Flaagan expected that the bridge would be painted. Redstone Construction LLC is replacing the County State Aid Highway 22 bridge at a cost of about $2.8 million. The project is being covered by state bonding proceeds and state aid funds. Flaagan and the Highway Department have been fielding phone calls from residents regarding the amount of water in ditches and near ditches. County personnel are going to those sites, but Flaagan noted that the recent rains have led to issues. “The ditch systems are taxed right now as much as they can handle,” said Flaagan, who noted water typically moves slower in the ditches this time of year anyway due to taller grass. Flaagan added that all ditch systems draining into the Thief and Red Lake rivers are backed up since the rivers are high right now.