Members of the Ashland County Highway Committee discussed a dispute with the U.S. Postal Service over a planned post office site in Highbridge and agreed to seek help from federal and state representatives and the USPS before accepting contract termination or absorbing the county’s costs.

The county built water, sewer and power to the Highbridge site last year; the highway commissioner told the committee the work cost about $33,000. The county’s contract with the Postal Service includes a termination clause allowing the Postal Service to terminate the lease after month 67 with 30 days’ written notice. Committee members said the county board approved the lease on Oct. 29 and the Postal Service signed on May 23 (the transcript includes both county and Postal Service signature references). The Postal Service later indicated it wanted to cancel the lease, citing concerns described in correspondence as a drain-field or hazardous condition.

County staff and committee members disputed the characterization, noting the county installed an engineered holding tank and drainfield under required plumbing permits. Committee members said they authorized the work to restore reliable postal delivery in the area after service had degraded, and they emphasized the county spent the funds in good faith. Dan, county staff, recounted that he believed no Postal Service signature existed when the county performed the work; other staff indicated the Postal Service signature dated May 23, 2025.

The committee directed staff to invite the local offices of U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and the district congressional representative (Rep. Tom Tiffany), and to invite a Postal Service representative to the Highway Committee’s next regular meeting on Nov. 10 so officials can inspect the site and discuss next steps. Committee members also discussed pursuing written reimbursement for site costs if the Postal Service insists on termination; one member recommended sending a letter to federal representatives and asking them to intervene.

No formal vote to pursue litigation or settlement was taken at the meeting; the next step is outreach and an on-site review if federal or USPS representatives can attend.