Douglas County Board Meeting February 3, 2026

Douglas County’s five-year road construction plan is ready. County Engineer and Public Works Director Tim Erickson shared with board members the projects that will ultimately make the roads safer and smoother. He also shared the various funding sources for the projects. For example, County State Aid Highways (CSAH) are funded through the state gas tax.  

Erickson’s presentation was part of a public hearing held at the beginning of the February 3 board meeting. In 2026 three big projects will be completed. 

CSAH 4, near Lake Mary and Lake Andrew, CSAH 8, west of the roundabout, and CSAH 46 near the Viking Plaza Mall in Alexandria will get their final surfacing.

CSAH 14 in the Miltona Township area will get graded and CSAH 23 in Alexandria Township will have its shoulders widened and storm sewer work done.  

A new section of CSAH 8, from the roundabout east to CSAH 82 will be reclaimed and have bituminous surfacing as will CSAH 40 north and south of the roundabout. Commissioner Tim Kalina asked if that work will be coordinated with MnDOT which plans to work on 114. Erickson assured him it would.

A big project ahead for this summer is the replacement of a culvert between Lakes Geneva and Le Homme Dieu. This will disrupt travel flow on Highway 29. The county will publicize the start date as soon as it’s available. This project is funded through a legislative apportionment brought forth by Representative Mary Franson.

Following the public hearing on road construction, the commissioners heard a lengthy presentation from Land and Resource Management Director Dave Rush. He shared the details of a proposed Conditional Use Permit for the Lake Darling Resort.  The requests include adding a restaurant/meeting room to the complex, adding overnight watercraft mooring stations, acquiring 5 additional acres, part of which would be used to house a recreational equipment rental business, and outdoor storage of lakeshore and recreational equipment. Rush detailed the sixteen requirements involved in this project including how to keep people safe on County Road 22 which runs between the resort and the proposed rental business and how to ensure emergency vehicles can safely access the property. After the presentation and discussion, commissioners opted to take more time to review the application. They took no action, which means it will be on a future Douglas County Board meeting agenda.

In other action, board members accepted a donation to the sheriff’s office and multiple donations to the Veterans Service Office. The very generous donations from individuals and service organizations to the Veterans Service Office have now covered the costs of a vehicle to replace one that was destroyed in a crash.

Commissioners set wages for seasonal positions which include watercraft inspectors, parks maintenance and seasonal elections assistants and they agreed to review the limited space to turn large vehicles around at the end of Cardinal Lane in Alexandria. This concern was shared by Emajean Hanson-Ford, the executive director of Douglas County Housing and Redevelopment Authority which owns townhomes on Cardinal Lane.

The next board meeting is set for February 17 at 9 a.m. in the Douglas County Administration Building at 821 Cedar Street.