Burnhamville Township Special Hearing • July 19, 2016

These are unapproved minutes.
Sup. Berscheit call to order at 7 p.m. at the Burtrum Community Center the special hearing to discuss the replacement of the Pillsbury Bridge. Board Members present included Sups. Mike Berscheit and Bruce Johnson and Clerk Shirley Hulinsky. Also in attendance included Loren Fellbaum and Wade Jackson from Todd County Public works, Pete Sargerg designer from Widseth Smith Nolting, Eric Altena from DNR and several residents. Total attendance was 26.
Sup. Berscheit introduced Todd County Engineer Loren Fellbaum and turned the hearing over to him to lead the informational presentation.
The bridge L7077, commonly known as Pillsbury Bridge, on the outlet of Little Swan Lake was built in 1940 and is the only dam in Todd County. It has severe spalling on the waterline and so has been determined deficient. Todd County Public Works, MN DNR and hired engineers determined the best design will be a Concrete Beam Span Bridge with metal railing on the sides. The plans also included a “Stepped” Fish Ladder natural channel bottom and a Capped Sheet Pile Weir to control the lake water elevation. There are several very similar designed bridges in central and western Minnesota.
Residents voiced several concerns. DNR representative described natural fish habitats and other dams in the area before this lake that will deter invasive species. This project was too small to require an environmental impact study, but several agencies have reviewed the project for over three years before permits were issued including DNR, Todd Co. SWCD, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The water level will be controlled with new construction before anything is taken down and fish weir will be held in place with very large boulders to control water flow. The engineer was asked for better control of run off from bridge and road into lake. One resident asked if the DNR will monitor the fish in Little Swan Lake more closely after these changes to see if it works. This lake is monitored every six years already and the DNR feels these changes are not significant and any threat is considered so low it will not justify a new study every two years.
The new bridge will be 34 feet long and 30 feet wide at the bottom. With the wider dam area more volume of water may leave the lake but at a slower velocity with the fish ladder and capped sheet weir to encourage healthier environment for fish and normal flow downstream.
Specialists were available for additional discussion of concerns.
Sup. Berscheit adjourned the hearing at 8 p.m.
Shirley Hulinsky, Township clerk