Kewaunee County hears plan to renovate highway department buildings, opts for cost‑saving renovations over full rebuild

Marty, a highway department presenter, told the Kewaunee County Board of Supervisors that a professional facility assessment by Barrientos showed the county’s highway buildings need major work and that a full rebuild would cost an estimated $22 million to $25 million.

The presentation outlined immediate safety and operational problems across the main shop and outlying sites: roofs more than 40 years old with multiple patched membranes, inadequate well capacity that forces water shutdowns while producing brine, failing generators during storms, noncompliant hazardous‑material storage in an old barn, undersized and homemade cranes that cannot be certified, and poor ventilation for welding and painting operations.

The plan matters because the highway complex supports winter road operations, equipment maintenance and storage; continued deferred maintenance risks greater failures and higher long‑term costs. Barrientos produced a space‑needs and condition assessment that drove initial replacement options; county staff then worked with over 20 contractors to “right‑size” a renovation option focused on necessary fixes and cost savings, Marty said.

Marty listed the most urgent items: roof replacement on the main shop, improved water capacity to support brine production, certified lifting equipment and hoists, code‑compliant hazmat storage and improved ventilation and insulation for outlying shops in Stanglesville, Hillside and Algoma. He said the Barrientos report included useful soil borings, space analysis and building observations but did not fully capture sitewide utility limits, generator reliability or the costs of furniture and shop equipment needed for a new building. “Roof replacement is a must,” Marty said, and added that the $22 million estimate would only cover building shells unless equipment and furnishings were also budgeted.

During board questions a supervisor asked why maintenance had been deferred. Marty replied that budgeting choices and prioritization of road work over buildings had contributed and said the highway budget now includes a maintenance line to prevent future large backlogs. When asked about expected lifespan after renovation, Marty said, “With the proper maintenance going forward we could get another 50 to 75 years out of these buildings.”

Marty concluded that renovating and upgrading utilities and selected outlying shops is more cost‑effective for Kewaunee County than constructing a wholly new facility. Printed copies of the presentation and site photos were left with supervisors for review; staff will return with cost estimates and a reinvestment plan for further board consideration.

Ending: The board did not take formal action on the renovation plan at the meeting; staff indicated follow‑up work and budget details will be presented at a future meeting.