Dunn County highway officials outline summer projects, staffing needs and safety priorities

Dunn County Highway Commissioner Dustin Binder and Patrol Superintendent Brent Miller described the highway department’s upcoming summer projects, staffing plans, equipment work and safety practices during a "Meet the Leader" program this week.

The discussion matters because Dunn County maintains about 425 center-line miles of road — among the highest totals in Wisconsin — and officials said funding and real-estate constraints shape which roads are resurfaced and when. Binder and Miller detailed where crews will work this summer, the department’s staffing levels and how the county is adapting to equipment delays.

Binder, the Dunn County Highway Commissioner, said the county has 425 center-line miles and ranks near the top of Wisconsin counties for roadway miles the county maintains. “We rate our roads,” Binder said, describing the department’s biannual pavement ratings used to set long-term priorities. He said the county prioritizes more heavily traveled routes first and estimated the department’s goal is to repave about 20 miles of roadway a year, contingent on budget. “To just do a typical pulverizing repaved roadway, you’re looking at probably $200,000 to $250,000 a mile,” Binder said.

Brent Miller, patrol superintendent, described day-to-day operations and crew coordination: assigning about 40 operators across projects, scheduling work such as shoulder and brush cutting, and shifting crews for winter storms or other emergencies. On safety, Miller said county crews follow Wisconsin Department of Transportation traffic-control guidelines and place advanced warning signs and flashing lights on trucks. “We follow that to a T,” he said, adding that the department stresses awareness from drivers and flaggers and noted next week is Work Zone Awareness Week.

Planned 2025 summer projects listed by Miller include shoulder work and pulverize-and-repave jobs on County Road S north of Menomonee, County Road G (from D to 25), County Road Y near Old Galley, County Road J leaving Menomonee, and a project on Double B. Binder said a project on County Road D (near Jake’s and Pioneer) is contingent on acquiring several parcels in a real estate process before work can begin.

On equipment and maintenance, Binder described an in-house effort to fabricate plow trucks because vendor lead times can exceed a year. “We may be looking at trying to do that down the road again. It’s a cost savings to do it in-house,” he said. He also said a standard plow truck now costs roughly $300,000 to $400,000 and emphasized the county’s mechanics and welders perform constant maintenance to extend equipment life.

Staffing and budget details: Miller said the highway department has 51 total employees, including seasonal hires; this year the department planned to hire four seasonal workers primarily for flagging/traffic control. Binder said the department’s goal of repaving 20 miles per year is constrained by budget and that an average pavement lifespan is about 20 to 25 years. He gave a department budget estimate during the program of about $17 million to $18 million.

On workforce development, Miller and Binder said they recruit candidates with driving or equipment experience and train employees on large-equipment tasks such as finish grading and operating rollers. Miller said many employees who start at the county stay through retirement. Jobs are posted on Indeed and on the Dunn County website; Binder offered to share a hiring link for applicants.

The officials also described typical emergency responses: crews remove fallen trees and coordinate with power companies when lines are affected; they try to send at least two crew members to a tree or hazard location for safety. Binder said night work on interstates is sometimes required at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s direction to reduce traffic risk, but the county limits nighttime assignments for employee safety.

Ending: Binder and Miller encouraged awareness and caution from drivers in work zones and highlighted the department’s mix of planned summer work and continuing maintenance. They also noted some projects remain conditional on funding or right-of-way acquisition and that the county continues to seek staff and seasonal help for traffic control and equipment operation.