Shakopee, Minnesota – In Scott County, signs of spring are abundant: warmer weather, longer days, budding trees, and… potholes. But thanks to a $150,000 donation from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), Scott County will soon be able to repair the holes more quickly and efficiently. The county is using the donation to purchase new equipment called a pothole patcher.

Potholes occur in the spring when temperatures alternate between freezing and thawing. During warm days, the snow and ice melt on the roads, causing water to seep beneath the pavement through cracks caused by the wear and tear of traffic. At night the water freezes and expands causing the pavement to buckle. As temperatures rise and traffic drives over the raised section, a divot occurs under the surface and the pavement breaks forming a pothole. Currently Scott County repairs potholes by manually cleaning out the loose debris and filling the hole with an asphalt/aggregate mixture.

According to Scott County Deputy Administrator Lezlie Vermillion, the automatic patcher will reduce the staff necessary to conduct pothole repairs from about six staff members to only one, freeing up those employees for other projects.

“I couldn’t even begin to estimate the number of potholes we fill every year,” said Scott County Board Chair Tom Wolf. “This new machine will allow us to repair them more quickly, at up to half of the cost, with a technique that will extend the life of the patch by an additional three years. That’s good news for the residents and visitors to Scott County, and we thank the SMSC leadership for their generosity.”

“Being a good neighbor is very important to our Community,” said SMSC Chairman Charlie Vig. “We are glad to help with the purchase of this equipment, which will help the County’s road maintenance department become even more efficient.”

The pothole-filling machine arrived at the end of April and is already being used on roads. The total cost of this equipment is $217,000; Scott County’s share of the purchase, $67,000, will be paid from its existing capital equipment fund.

Earlier this year, the SMSC and the Scott County Board of Commissioners approved a four-year intergovernmental agreement, in which the SMSC makes annual voluntary contributions of $280,000 to Scott County. The funds are allocated for highway operations, county administration, the Sheriff’s Office, and the County Attorney’s Office. The $150,000 donation for the pothole machine is in addition to the yearly contribution.

This grant is part of $900,000 in grants to neighboring governments the SMSC announced in October 2012. The Tribe provided $150,000 each to Scott County and the cities of Belle Plaine, Jordan, Prior Lake, Savage, and Shakopee. Specifically, the grants were for the benefit of local residents as determined by each governmental unit.

About Scott County

Scott County – home to more than 130,000 people – is a growing community of urban, suburban, and rural areas. Located approximately 25 miles southwest of Minneapolis, Scott County has been the fastest growing county in the state of Minnesota since 1990. Frequently referred to as “the entertainment county” because of its vibrant recreational facilities (such as Mystic Lake Casino, Canterbury Park, the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, Elko Speedway, and Valley Fair), Scott County is also rich in tradition, history, natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and a burgeoning commercial-industrial sector.

About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Indian tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. With a focus on being a good neighbor, good steward of the earth, and good employer, the SMSC is committed to community partnerships, charitable donations, a healthy environment, and a strong economy. The SMSC and the SMSC Gaming Enterprise (Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino) are the largest employers in Scott County. Out of a Dakota tradition to help others, the SMSC has donated more than $272 million to organizations and causes and over $7.6 million for shared local road projects since 1996, in addition to funding its own infrastructure and contributing generously to regional governments and infrastructure.