DULUTH, MN (KDAL) – The St. Louis County Board meeting in Hermantown on Tuesday, approved a $955,000 contract with Gee Asphalt Systems, Inc., out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa for bituminous seal coat projects on several county roads this summer.
While seal coat projects are routinely used by St. Louis County Public Works to preserve road quality, this contract is unique because the company uses a taconite tailings by-product, crushed down and combined with oil as the seal. The taconite tailings by-product comes from Optimal Aggregates, Inc. of Gilbert.
The projects will begin in June at three locations: 4.5 miles of Maple Grove Road between Highway 2 and Canosia Road; and four miles of St. Louis River Road between Canosia Road and Midway Road. Additionally, in Greenwood Township, work will be done on 5.5 miles of County State Aid Highway 77 and County Road 929, from County Road 115 to the end of Moccasin Point.
Commissioners also discussed the need for further conversation regarding updating the county’s Zoning Ordinance 62. Last week, the Board voted to send the ordinance back to the Planning Commission for further review after residents expressed concerns with two portions related to storage of inoperable vehicles and the classification of data centers.
The Board requested that an amended resolution be put on the agenda for the May 5 meeting. The amended resolution removes any changes related to inoperable vehicles. It also directs the Planning Commission to develop a comprehensive Data Center Zoning Ordinance Amendment.

Comments