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Sunday, October 29, 2023

Ambiguous referent sentences amuse. A headline, "Deficient bridge replacement contract approved by county board." One might wonder, why would the board enter into a deficient contract."

Link. The opening sentence of the item resolves things:

A deficient bridge on Viking Boulevard will be replaced under a contract awarded by the Anoka County Board Oct. 10.

Redstone Construction, LLC submitted the lowest of seven bids, totaling about $5.5 million, to construct the new bridge on Viking Boulevard over the Rum River in Oak Grove.

So "deficient" modifies "bridge" and not "bridge replacement contract."

That makes the board look better.