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State 6–20-foot structure inspections prompt closures, possible township cost spike in Richland County
Summary
County staff said state-mandated inspections of 6–20-foot structures are underway; five township roads have been closed so far and the county expects more closures and future cost-sharing reimbursements to townships.
Richland County public works staff told the committee that statewide inspections of 6–20-foot structures have begun and are already identifying structures that are unsafe to cross, leading to temporary township road closures and likely future repair costs shared with townships.
“6 to 20 foot structure program is an, program issued by the state of Wisconsin,” a county staff member explained. The staff member said the state completed the inventory phase and is now in the inspection phase; as inspections proceed, several low-volume township roads have been closed because structures were found “structurally not safe to cross.” The staff member said, “I think right now, we're up to 5, you know, 5 roads that we've had to close.”
Under the program, townships may request culvert replacement work from the county; the county performs the work and the townships later reimburse the county under a cost-share arrangement. At the meeting the county presented a resolution listing four townships and culvert reimbursements totaling $38,964.74 that would be forwarded to the county board for reimbursement. The staff member said the program offers 50% cost-share for eligible townships and noted the county’s inventory and inspection work is expected to reveal more needed repairs.
Committee members asked how many of these structures exist countywide; the staff member said “hundreds” are in the inventory and that inspections are roughly halfway complete in the county. The staff member cautioned that the total fiscal effect cannot be calculated until inspections finish, because many township structures have not had recent professional inspections.
The staff member told the committee the county will work with townships to determine whether a cost-share is needed or if repairs can be handled without full replacement. The staff member said the inspection program could create a near-term spike in county-administered replacement costs and future reimbursements to townships.
No formal county-level decisions to alter budgets were taken during the meeting; staff said they will continue inspections, notify affected townships of closures, and report back as the inspection phase completes.
