MONTEVIDEO -- The Chippewa County Board of Commissioners has officially signed an agreement to cooperate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help preserve Big Bend Lutheran Cemetery from river encroachment.
County commissioners had approved the concept of the cooperative agreement earlier this year. Their action Tuesday makes it official.
Erosion from the Chippewa River is threatening grave sites in the Big Bend Lutheran Cemetery near Milan.
More than 700 graves in the 137-year-old cemetery are within 100 feet of the river bank; 16 graves will eventually have to be moved.
The Army Corps of Engineers will work with local authorities to armor the river bank and protect it from further erosion.
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The estimated cost of the project is $500,000.
Jon Clauson, Chippewa County auditor-treasurer, said a design has been completed but actual work likely won't start until next year.
In other business Tuesday, bids were opened for the demolition of a dilapidated building in downtown Montevideo, but the county commissioners deferred awarding a contract until their next meeting.
There was one bid, from MAAC Inc. for $110,000.
The property, a former meat market, is at the north end of Main Street and is in tax forfeiture.
Because it is connected to the neighboring building, tearing it down will involve either reconstructing the wall of the building next door or demolishing both buildings.
The bid from MAAC is for tearing down both buildings.
-- Anne Polta
