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Highway department outlines bridge grant applications and equipment upgrades, warns of large local shares
Summary
Sawyer County highway staff reported multiple bridge grant applications and equipment work; officials said federal 80/20 programs and local cost shares could create sizeable local obligations over the next five years.
Sawyer County highway staff told the Public Works Committee Thursday they have submitted multiple bridge grant applications and are reworking operations to improve winter response and equipment usage.
The highway representative said the department completed six bridge applications — five replacements and one rehabilitation — and noted federal programs typically fund 80% of construction costs, leaving a 20% local share. Using the Hay Creek bridge as an example, staff said the county’s local share of construction plus design could amount to about $23,030 (local share), with total project costs considerably higher. Staff warned that, over the next five years, the county could face substantial local levy impacts from multiple projects.
The highway representative said crews have been brushing County W south of Winter, completed a three-mile paving section from CC North Boat Landing to The Landing Restaurant, and installed a three-way intersection at New Post with stop signs and new markings. The department is also reevaluating plow routes to reduce deadhead time and improve winter response.
Equipment updates included repair to a new mastic machine (replacement engine installed after a failure), rental of the mastic to neighboring counties, and planned repainting and signage work on 20-year fuel tanks at Radisson and Hayward. The representative said the department trained additional paver operators and has one new hire starting Oct. 20, with one Hayward opening still to fill.
Staff noted the governor allocated $30 million to the ARIP program for local small structures and said the county would apply for ARIP and LRIP/STP funding on several projects, including a roundabout on County Road B and repairs on County W South and County C. No formal approvals of additional levy or bonding occurred at the meeting; staff presented information and said they would return with more detailed budget impacts as grant awards and SMA reports are received.
