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Ashland County Highway Committee reviews resurfacing bids, staffing needs and roadside operations
Summary
Committee members discussed recent county highway bids that came in under budget, upcoming resurfacing and culvert projects, tree-cutting and brushing operations, the lack of recent snow-fence installations, and a policy change around assisting residents with DOT firewood permit applications.
The Ashland County Highway Committee reviewed recent highway project bids and operations and discussed staffing and policy changes for roadside work.
A Highway Department staff member reported two county-contracted resurfacing projects came in under the department’s estimates: one bid came in about $12,723 under the estimate, and the other came in roughly $196,000 under the budget. The staff member said the difference largely reflected that county projects avoid higher federal-bid costs such as prevailing wages, signing, striping and shouldering included in state-level estimates.
Committee members reviewed upcoming work: State Highway 169 from Mallon to the Iron County line is scheduled for resurfacing and culvert work and a new deck on the Bad River Bridge; a portion of County G G has scribe/scrub seal work planned and a four-mile section yet to be completed. Staff said certain culvert projects are scheduled for 2026, with paving planned in 2027 for a separate stretch.
On operations, staff said full-time staffing is unchanged but summer-help recruitment remains weak, with only one of four summer positions filled. Committee members asked whether seasonal hires might be eligible for unemployment; staff replied that eligibility depends on prior work history and hours and that the county pays unemployment claims as they occur rather than through a payroll-rate system.
The committee also discussed vegetation and tree work. Staff said crews have been doing brushing, patching, shoulder pulling, and were cutting dead trees and large limbs on Madeline Island and other rights-of-way, using a man lift where needed. Regarding a dispute over DOT firewood permits on a right-of-way, staff said they will stop helping residents complete DOT permit forms and instead provide DOT contact information; staff said a permit was issued to a resident but a typo in an email address meant the resident did not receive it, prompting a complaint that an employee unfairly received wood — a charge staff said was unintentional.
Members also asked about snow-fence installations; staff said the county has not installed snow fence during the current staff member’s tenure (since 2013) and that improvements in equipment, landowner easement requirements and past problems led to discontinuing routine installations.
The committee discussed scheduling, equipment procurement, and an executive meeting to authorize a mechanic position to support vehicle builds; staff said the mechanic authorization must go to an executive committee for approval.
