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Staff seeks feedback on draft infrastructure chapter of Marathon County comprehensive plan
Summary
County planning staff presented draft updates to Chapter 8 (infrastructure) of the Marathon County comprehensive plan, adding sections on road maintenance, airport facilities, stormwater, renewable energy, broadband, solid waste changes and PFAS; committee asked for additional input ahead of an executive committee review.
County planning (CPZ) staff presented March 13 an initial draft update to Chapter 8 (Infrastructure) of the Marathon County comprehensive plan and asked the Infrastructure Committee for preliminary comments to be incorporated into a full draft later this summer.
Staff said the draft (packet, page 90 onward) adds recent plans and studies, updates transportation statistics, and proposes a new section on county road maintenance that would capture PACER ratings and equipment needs. Airport updates were added from the Central Wisconsin Airport master plan and recent facility changes; staff noted airport efforts to remain competitive for carriers and that some communities have offered revenue guarantees to retain service.
The draft also adds a stormwater-management section tied to permit inspection duties, documents interest and developments in wind and solar projects as well as renewable natural gas at the county solid-waste facility, and expands the telecommunications section to reflect ongoing broadband expansion and pending BEAD application developments. Solid-waste updates include the 2024 closure of Area B, the 2024–2025 opening of the Bluebird Ridge active landfill, and the renewable natural gas plant under development at the facility. Staff also added PFAS as an emerging issue, noting implications for leachate handling and landfill acceptance criteria.
Staff said the chapter will continue to be refined: infrastructure departments identified operational-cost and life-cycle maintenance as recurring themes, transit conversations continue in the metropolitan planning organization context (with interest in on-demand services and senior mobility), and nonmotorized-transportation emphasis has shifted to user education and access. Committee members offered positive feedback on the draft; Vice Chair Dickinson noted airport improvements and the challenge of retaining low-cost carriers.
CPZ staff requested any additional comments by e-mail; the draft will be discussed with the executive committee and then refined into a full draft for public review and county-board consideration later this year.
