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Highway committee agrees to study county bridge-aid policy; statute requires 36-inch minimum culverts
Summary
The Ashland County Highway Committee voted to have the highway commissioner investigate a county bridge-aid policy after several towns requested the program; county staff noted Wisconsin statute 82.08 sets a 36-inch minimum for eligible culverts and that levying a tax would require finance and county board approval.
ASHLAND COUNTY, Wis. — Members of the Ashland County Highway Committee on June 9 directed Highway Commissioner Matt Hinkle to investigate a county bridge-aid policy after several town officials asked the committee to reconsider establishing one.
The county currently is one of the few in the region without a formal bridge-aid policy. Hinkle told the committee he spoke with 13 towns and that seven of those who attended a recent meeting asked the committee to "look at it again." Several town chairs had approached the highway department during the winter asking whether the county could provide bridge or large-culvert aid.
County staff referenced Wisconsin statute 82.08 during the discussion; County staff member Dan read the statute in committee and told members the statute requires culverts be 36 inches or greater to be eligible under the county bridge-aid provisions. Dan also noted that because the policy would be funded by a county levy, finance and the county board ultimately would need to approve any tax levy for bridge aid.
Committee members asked Hinkle to return with a draft policy and options for how a fund could operate — for example, a fixed annual levy that accumulates if unused, an annual set amount distributed by application, or an entitlement-style spreadsheet similar to LRIP (local road improvement program) tracking that would give towns priority based on prior contributions or usage. Hinkle said he would check whether statute allows lowering the culvert threshold to 24 inches; Dan confirmed the statute text shows a 36-inch minimum.
Hinkle said several design choices would matter for equity and budget predictability, including whether the program caps awards per town and whether the county would maintain a contingency fund for emergency replacements that arise mid-year.
The highway committee passed a motion to have Hinkle further research and draft a proposed policy for committee review. Hinkle and committee members said they will consult finance during policy design so any levying plan matches what finance will accept.
What happens next
Hinkle will return with a draft policy and funding options for the highway committee to consider. If the committee agrees on a policy, any levy to fund bridge aid would require finance committee review and county board approval before appearing on a tax roll.
