Chippewa County board pledges local share for first phase of Highway T expansion amid debate over annexation and costs

The Chippewa County Board voted to pledge local funding toward phase 1 of the County Highway T four‑lane expansion, approving a resolution that commits the county to 32.67% of the local share for phase 1.

Supporters said the commitment makes the county eligible to receive $10 million in discretionary federal funds already secured for the corridor and keeps the multi‑jurisdictional project moving. "We feel like having the 30% engineering really shows that the county is committed to the project," Chippewa County Highway Commissioner Brian Kelly said during the discussion.

Opponents warned the county is assuming continuing costs for new miles of road and risk of annexation. "I totally oppose this Highway T project," Supervisor Seidlitz said, adding that annexation would remove township control and could change local lot rules and services. Other supervisors questioned long‑term maintenance costs and whether the county should press for the road to become a state highway.

County staff and the stakeholder group told the board the corridor design is at about 30% and that phase 1 —the northern segment from 29 Pines south toward Seventeenth Avenue—has an estimated design and construction cost of about $16.8 million (the board used a $17 million figure in planning). The project team said about 2.3 of the roughly 3.5 miles fall in Chippewa County and that the corridor is forecast to grow from about 8,000 vehicles per day today to 16,000 in 10 years.

The approved resolution directs the county administrator and highway commissioner to sign a five‑party intergovernmental agreement to pay 32.67% of the phase 1 local share and asks staff to keep the board apprised through annual CIP reporting. Brian Kelly said local funding would come from a combination of sales tax, bond proceeds and transfers of levy originally associated with other projects; the board packet included a funding plan that phases sales tax, bonding and prior fund transfers through 2030.

Votes: The resolution passed 14–6. Several supervisors said the federal discretionary funding could be lost if the county did not proceed now; others said the county should prioritize local bridge repair and road maintenance instead.

The board directed staff to sign the intergovernmental agreement and continue seeking state and federal grants for later phases. The stakeholder group —the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa and Eau Claire counties, and the towns of Union and Wheaton— has agreed on a phased approach, and staff said phase 1 is entirely in Chippewa County, easing near‑term right‑of‑way work.

The board’s decision does not commit Chippewa County to the costs of later phases; members said future phases would require separate budget approvals. "If we can get another $3.5 million from STP something, that's gonna bring our share down even further," Kelly said in describing grant possibilities.

Ending: Board members who opposed the pledge said they will press for protections for residents and clearer answers on maintenance costs, while supporters said acting now secures federal funds and addresses a rising traffic safety risk as development proceeds.