NEW ULM — Brown County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved rural light system installation at the intersection of Trunk Highway 14 and Brown County State Aid Highway 11 near Essig.

Action came after Brown County received a Milford Township Board letter requesting commissioners to consider adding streetlights at the intersection for safety considerations.

Brown County will assume lighting ownership and maintenance responsibilities after the installation, estimated at about $600 a year.

“I think this is a very affordable and significant step for safety,” said Commissioner Dave Borchert, who seconded Tony Berg’s motion to approve the request.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) was contacted about installing the lighting system if Brown County assumed electricity costs and future maintenance or repairs after the Oct. 22 county highway committee meeting.

Brown County got a favorable response from MnDOT, including light installation funding estimated at $30,000, provided the county assume ownership and maintenance responsibilities.

Commissioners unanimously approved the County Roadway Safety Plan (CRSP), motion by Commissioner Brian Braun, seconded by Jeff Veerkamp.

Brown County Highway Engineer Andrew Lang said the County Roadway Safety Plan would enable the County to apply for highway safety funding grants to could be as large as $600,000 to $700,000.

Brown County’s safety plan created in August 2012 recommended safety items — edge rumbles, rural intersection lighting and six-inch wide pavement marking stripes. Edge line rumbles have been incorporated on all surface projects. Intersection lights have been installed at multiple locations.

The CRSP update will use the latest research, crash data and countermeasures to develop safety plans.

The safety plan requires a 20% local funding match that could range from $20,000 to $35,000.

At the end of the Brown County Highway Department monthly update, Lee Case, who lives on County Road 10 asked about repairing potholes on several miles of CR 10 south of the Minnesota River.

“I realize the ground is frozen now so the road really can’t be graded to fix it, but there was a time I thought it could have been graded and fixed,” he said.

Case talked about Steffl Hill, located on County Road 10 just south of the Minnesota River.

“A few years ago, I think FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) money was used to rebuild the hill. I understand we had to do it to FEMA specifications. For me, they screwed it all up. I think there is a lot of consensus is that. They put rock dams halfway down that fill up with leaves and dirt. Now when we get a big rain, water comes down the road and washes the road out. Then we just dump more gravel on it,” he said.

Case said the same thing happens south of his place.

“Multiple times, the road is washed out. Rather than clean the ditch out, it’s patched again. That’s county money,” he said.

Commissioner Scott Windschitl asked what caused the potholes.

“To me, it needs to be built up or reworked somehow,” said Case.

Windschitl said he would take Case’s thoughts under advisement and see what can be done.

Brown County Highway Engineer Andrew Lang said the potholes could be worked on in the right conditions.

“I appreciate you looking into it,” said Windschitl.