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Public Works committee approves about $28,000 in county bridge aid for Town of Barton; fund would be zeroed for remainder of 2025
Summary
The Washington County Public Works Committee approved a resolution to provide roughly $28,000 from the county Culvert and Bridge Aid Fund to the Town of Barton to cover engineering invoices; the committee was told the county account would be left at zero for the remainder of 2025 unless the board increases the fund during the budget process.
The Washington County Public Works Committee approved a resolution to allocate roughly $28,000 from the county Culvert and Bridge Aid Fund to the Town of Barton to help pay engineering invoices for a bridge project, and committee members were told that, if no further appropriations are made this year, the aid fund would be at zero for the remainder of 2025.
Public Works staff Scott (title not specified) told the committee that Barton’s bridge will not be constructed until 2027 but the town is incurring engineering costs now and is seeking reimbursement. “They could solicit you right now, but they wouldn't get repaid until next year,” Scott said, explaining the timing of requests and payments. He emphasized that the resolution before the committee covers the immediate request of about $28,000 and that additional town requests would depend on the board’s decisions in the upcoming budget cycle.
The committee record shows the Culvert and Bridge Aid Fund has historically received about $100,000 per year; Scott said some recent years have depleted the fund and that federal bridge program funding has at times covered local bridge costs. He also said the county has asked towns to inventory and inspect culverts and that the county GIS department created a free application three towns have used to begin that inventory work.
Supervisor Mikulik raised a formatting discrepancy in the staff report concerning the fund balance, and county staff confirmed the correct current available amount is approximately $28,000 and that the resolution would effectively reduce the fund to zero if the board does not appropriate additional money.
After discussion, the committee moved and seconded the resolution (mover: Supervisor Pefasbalik; second: Supervisor Mikulik) and voted to approve it. On the record, the chair called for approval, members said “aye,” and the motion carried.
The committee also discussed that if the board later decides to fund the road and bridge aid account during the budget process, Barton would be first in line for any newly allocated funds; Scott said the county will ask towns to submit likely projects for the next one to two years to help set an appropriate funding level in that upcoming budget discussion.
