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Sawyer County highway staff report paving progress, grant applications and staffing changes
Summary
Highway staff reported completion of paving on County W, upcoming shoulder and painting work, multiple detour and culvert projects, applications for Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grants, and a retirement and hiring update.
County highway staff told the board that paving operations on County W are complete and that crews will finish shouldering soon; pavement painting is expected later in the summer. Staff said mowing operations are scheduled to start around June 21 and that sign replacement work continues across county routes.
The department reported a planned closure for work at Smith Creek on County 77 after July to replace large concrete culverts; a detour will be provided. Staff said a four-mile scrub seal project near Exelon Nuzzatto Road has been completed and another four-mile scrub-seal is planned.
On grant applications, staff said the FLAP (Federal Lands Access Program) grant cycle was open and the county has submitted two projects; staff requested letters of recommendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s office, the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) tribal government, and others. Staff said roughly $7 million was available in the FLAP pool and that the county had requested two projects—one listed at about $2.1 million and the other about $2.5 million.
Staff also said they applied for a county grant up to Ashland and another segment to Moose Lake under an earlier FLAP-era program. ‘‘I put in for the county GG up to Ashland and then, county lower part of S,’’ John said, describing the submissions.
Personnel and operations updates included the retirement of highway employee Steve Olsen after 24 years; the department is recruiting for the winter shop foreman and has received five applicants. The county has hired one summer flagger and is still seeking one more.
Staff briefed the board on small-structure inspections: county-owned small structures have been inspected and only one was assessed as bad, but town-owned structures have not yet been inspected and may present additional needs once reviewed. Highway staff said they compiled a countywide inventory (about 101 small structures) and sent it to the state DOT.
No formal board action was taken; staff asked the board for input on scheduling a road tour and outreach to the public to show recent work and discuss future priorities ahead of the October budget process.
