Carver County — Transcript
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Proposed Custodian Layoffs in 2027 Budget
Employee Concerns Regarding Three Rivers Parks Partnership
Public Works Parking Lot Rebuild Project Cost Overruns
Highway 212 Project Major Change Order
Public Works Department Reorganization
Chaska Library Project Update
Reinstated Easement Agreement with City of Carver (Regional Rail Authority)
Votes (4)
Public Works Parking Lot Rebuild Project Change Order
Dissent: Workman/Chairperson
Moved by Commissioner Lynch [47m47s] · Seconded by Commissioner Fehey [48m11s]
The discussion centered on the unexpected soil issues encountered during the parking lot rebuild project at the Public Works Headquarters in Cologne, leading to a significant cost increase. The project team explained the technical challenges (insufficient aggregate base, weak subgrade) and the need for additional funds. Commissioner Udman questioned the source of additional funds, expressing concern about 'kicking the can' on other planned projects and suggesting increased core drilling in future projects to avoid such surprises.
Highway 212 Project Change Order Number 40
Dissent: Workman/Chairperson
Moved by Commissioner Anderson [1h0m3s] · Seconded by Commissioner Lynch [1h0m18s]
This item involved a major change order for the Highway 212 project, driven by complex soil issues in the 'Bungard Swamp' and persistent utility relocation delays. The public works director detailed the engineering challenges, the decision to use lightweight fill (styrofoam blocks) to stabilize the road, and the significant financial impact, which will be covered by county sales tax. The project's completion date is now extended to July of the following year. Commissioners expressed frustration over the cost, the state's lack of funding assistance, and the challenges with utility accountability, while also acknowledging the necessity of building a quality, safe road.
Public Works Reorganization
Moved by Commissioner Anderson [1h9m54s] · Seconded by Unknown/Commissioner [1h10m12s]
The Public Works Director presented a plan to reorganize the department by creating a new Public Works Planning Director position, moving transportation planning into its own dedicated department. The rationale included increased demands from county growth, enhanced focus on transit and regional rail, and better coordination for parks and trails planning, especially with the impending Three Rivers Parks partnership. The new position is expected to attract specialized talent and relieve the Public Works Director of some oversight, with an estimated cost of $18,000.
Regional Rail Authority - Reinstated Easement Agreement with City of Carver
Moved by Commissioner Lynch [1h11m56s] · Seconded by Commissioner Anderson [1h12m17s]
This item, discussed as the Regional Rail Authority, concerned approving a formal reinstated easement agreement with the City of Carver. The agreement pertains to the Minnesota River Bluffs Regional Trail, which runs along an old railroad corridor, and is related to a city levy project. The agreement ensures the continuation of previously established requirements for the city regarding the trail.
Notable Quotes (8)
During construction, we discovered uh soil issues on the site. Uh kind of two main reasons. One is uh insufficient aggregate base in many areas... Then the second uh issue that we ran into is uh due to the deterioration of the previous surface the previous asphalt uh water saturated in the subgrade and it was discovered to be weak in many areas.
I'm wondering if this is another example of where we're kicking the can starving these future planning things or we didn't need to plan for those at all. And so I don't know if you had any thoughts about the specifics of getting to 582.
The other one was soil corrections. It seems to be the MO for a lot of our projects. Soils is huge. And uh we we experienced a uh an issue at the bond guard swamp... 40 to 50 feet of bad soils.
The plan is to start uh next week and end uh that'll end uh next year. Uh unfortunately what it's done to the schedule if if you remember I said the original completion date was October of this year to have all the lanes built open to traffic. That won't happen now until July of of next year.
I think our community deserves and expects to have safe travel and we've come to be accustomed to that in in in this country and and especially in this community. So um I don't love this news...yet these are um things that that that need to happen.
this feels like we're doing the work of the state again. It feels like it's another um uh a state shift to the county to to bear this burden. It feels like we're taking on 2.3 to $3 million of of risk for the state, but we have to cover it with county sales tax.
we're the fastest growing county... with the incredible growth in the county, there's an increased demand on our services and infrastructure, and I think we're it's a it's the right time for us to, you know, with the planning need and the amount of development that's out there is to to create this new planning group within public works.
one one of the obvious concerns was though when you you take out the parks director, what what's the direct connection to us and to me it was very visible that Lyndon has just too much on his plate period and and this helps that.
Ordinances & Resolutions (12)
Proposed county budget leading to potential custodian layoffs.
Proposed agreement for partnership with Three Rivers Parks, affecting county park employees.
Agreement between Carver County and City of Carver regarding a levy project.
Contract with Matthew Construction for the parking lot project at Public Works Headquarters in Cologne.
Contract with Mathwoods Construction for the Highway 212 reconstruction.
Request for Proposal issued by the city and county for the Chaska Library architect.
New strategic plan being developed for the Carver County Library system.
Long-term comprehensive plan being developed for the Carver County Library system.
Approved plan for Public Works Headquarters in Cologne, guiding parking additions.
Grant that was instrumental in initiating the Highway 212 project.
Agreement between the City of Carver and the Carver County Regional Rail Authority for a levy system impacting the Minnesota River Bluffs Regional Trail.
Capital Improvement Plan, currently being updated for prioritizing future trail projects.