County Engineer Zach presented the Highway Department’s 2026 operating budget as a flexible framework that includes a 7% pay adjustment and a 5% cost‑of‑living allowance option, warns overtime depends on winter severity, and highlights 13 active federal aid projects and a multi‑year construction pipeline.

The board approved awarding the Federal Aid Secondary asphalt contract (project S-2000(10)) to Reynolds Construction Co. of Sioux Falls; the bid was about 14.5% below the engineer's estimate and the county authorized execution with state contracting processes.

The Board of Commissioners approved low bids this spring and summer for multiple Federal-Aid road projects, awarding an asphalt contract to Reynolds Construction Co. and later approving seal-coat and radio-maintenance contracts that support the county's pavement program.