OTC Board approves $620k purchase of street supplies; longstanding employees to be honored with county swag

FERGUS FALLS — Just as spring and even summer temperatures arrive, at least for this week, the Otter Tail County board approved the purchase of more than $622,000 of street repair supplies for the upcoming road work season during their meeting on April 11.

The purchase will include:

• $335,000 of hot bituminous mix for pothole repair. The contract was awarded to Ferguson Asphalt Paving Inc. of Alexandria.
• $227,620 of road salt for winter 2023/2024. The contract was awarded to Compass Minerals America Inc. of Overland Park, Kansas.
• $59,987 of crack sealing material. The contract was awarded to Lot Pros Inc. of Fergus Falls.

Chuck Grotte, county engineer for Otter Tail County, said the price for road repair and street treatment material did increase from last year.
"Hot mix went up from around $60 per ton to $70 per ton," said Grotte, during the meeting. "And salt, I think, went up a little bit, but not that much, two or three dollars per ton."

Grotte also said unmixed salt would be available to be purchased at the county garages by the townships.

Otter Tail County employees with at least 5 years of service time will be honored with a coffee tumbler and opportunities to purchase discounted county swag.

This year, 69 employees who have served between 5-40 years in various Otter Tail County departments will be honored, said Darci Klecan, an eligibility worker for Otter Tail County.

Contributed / Otter Tail County Board

"This is the (coffee) mug that we ordered last year and we plan on doing that again," said Klecan. "We're looking at also opening up an exclusive, years of service, Otter Tail County store where people can buy clothing, and accessories, and all kinds of different stuff."

She added employees who have served longer than 15 years will also be given a coupon for at least $20 to spend on those additional items with a maximum $50 coupon awarded to those with 40-year of service.

"I was the recipient of a mug and they are good mugs," said Wayne Johnson, commissioner for District 2. "They hold their heat, and they are a good mug because you can get some really 'chintzy' ones and these are not. They hold hot coffee for a number of hours, so it's a good choice on those."

Members of the county board unanimously approved the $2,163 request for the Otter Tail County years of service program.