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Dodge County highway crews report spring shoulder work, pipe replacements and staffing shortfalls
Summary
Highway staff told the Dodge County Highway Committee that spring shoulder grading and herbicide treatment are complete, pipe replacement and piping lining projects are underway, and the department has six maintenance technician vacancies as turnover increased since February.
A highway staff member gave the Dodge County Highway Committee an operational update reporting completed spring shouldering and herbicide work, active pipe replacement and upcoming pipelining work, and ongoing bridge inspections.
The staff member said county crews had completed grading shoulders and would transition to adding shoulder material where needed and applying a base additive. Herbicide treatment across most of the county system was reported complete, with a small remaining portion on Highway 151 and vegetation treatment still needed at the airport.
On drainage work, staff said two crews are working aggressively on pipe replacements and identified at least three sites suited to pipelining because the pipes are very deep; a contractor that specializes in pipe lining will perform those linings because it is expected to be cheaper than full replacement at depth.
Staff reported active coordination with contractors on resurfacing work, naming contractor Kurt Heschner and citing the Highway M project (funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) being managed by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The report included recent DOT projects in Dodge County: reconstruction at the intersection of Highway 151 and Highway C (a Michigan left/hard cut turn) with Highway C closed at 151 and single-lane operation on 151; resurfacing work on I‑28 from Mabel to Thoressa and additional resurfacing west from Mabel to Horicon planned later this summer.
On personnel, staff reported six highway maintenance technician vacancies (up from none in February), attributing the increase to one death, one retirement and four employees leaving for other jobs. One new hire was scheduled to start on the 15th and three additional interviews were planned. The staff member said recruiting remains active but that many applicants have been marginal or declined interviews.
Committee members asked operational questions about route lengths, lane‑mile coverage and impacts of fewer trucks on cycle time during snow events; staff discussed how route length, storm type and use of brine affect cycle time and the ability to stay ahead of storm cycles.
No formal committee action was taken on operations items at this meeting.
