Brandon, a county staff member overseeing road work, told the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 6 that a box culvert on Hickory next to the interstate should be finished and open to traffic by the end of the week.

Brandon said crews were backfilling and expected the project to be complete “this week.” He reported that three excavation machines are currently out of service: a new John Deere with a leaking final drive, an older Case excavator with rodent damage to wiring, and a third unit experiencing intermittent hydraulic control problems. He said the machines failed around the same time and estimated staggered repair timelines: the older machine’s rodent damage “should be back up in the next couple of days,” while the hydraulic/control issue could take about two weeks.

Brandon also reported crews are identifying smaller culverts to replace before winter and have prepared one- or two-page plans so crews can perform smaller work internally. He said snow-equipment preparations will begin in about two to three weeks, putting on underbellies and front attachments to be ready for potential late-October snowfall.

Supervisors asked about coordination with conservation engineering and fairgrounds work; Brandon said he would confirm the latest status and report back.

The remarks were informational; no formal board action was taken on these operational updates during the session.