Jefferson County Board approves trail construction, software contract, road bids and budget amendments

The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors at its April 2025 meeting approved a slate of resolutions and ordinances covering road work, parks construction, emergency‑dispatch grants, a personnel pay change for communications staff and a multiyear compensation‑analysis subscription.

The board accepted the low bid of Karchner Brothers LLC for $1,473,585.29 to complete phase 3 of the Interurban multi‑use trail, authorized county budget adjustments tied to the project and confirmed that a Wisconsin Department of Transportation Transportation Alternatives Program grant is expected to cover roughly 80% of the construction cost. The parks project will complete a paved 10.96‑mile segment along a former interurban rail line between the cities of Watertown and Oconomowoc and includes a 10‑foot asphalt surface and two‑foot aggregate shoulders. The resolution amends the 2025 parks budget to apply grant proceeds, project contingency and proceeds from a planned land sale toward the county share.

The board authorized contracting with GovInvest (through reseller Carahsoft Technology Corp.) for compensation‑analysis software under a three‑year agreement. The county will pay a one‑time configuration fee of $8,375 and an annual subscription of $26,550; the three‑year total cited in materials is $88,025. The human resources committee and finance committee recommended the purchase, and the first‑year funding will come from savings tied to an existing vacant position in the human resources department, with future years to be funded by avoiding external consultant studies.

Board members approved multiple highway procurement actions recommended by the Highway Committee: award of asphalt supply for the 2025 Local Road Improvement Program projects to Payne & Dolan, seasonal vendor quote authorities for hot‑mix asphalt purchases, acceptance of asphalt milling quotes and acceptance of asphalt pulverizing quotes. The highway resolutions instruct the highway department to select vendors based on location, price and schedule and to use the lowest‑price vendor able to meet project timelines. Funding for the asphalt purchases was noted as coming from Wisconsin DOT LRIP funds and existing highway budget appropriations.

The board accepted a PSAP (public safety answering point) grant previously awarded to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, authorized an immediate budget increase and approved contingency authority for an additional, pending PSAP grant. Materials state the county was awarded a PSAP grant of $141,374 to implement an emergency medical dispatch program and purchase dispatch equipment; the resolution authorizes the finance director to increase budget revenue and expenses by $127,237 for that award. The packet also notes a second pending PSAP award of $36,804 and authorizes a further $33,124 budget increase if that award is made. The sheriff’s office will absorb required matching funds through budget adjustments if needed.

The board adopted an ordinance amending personnel ordinance HR0360 to raise shift differentials for communications operators to $2 per hour for second shift (previously $0.10), $3 per hour for third shift (previously $0.20) and $2 per hour for field training officer duties (previously $0.35). The fiscal note in the packet estimated an annual impact of approximately $37,250 and $22,850 for the remainder of 2025; during discussion a supervisor noted an alternative figure of $34,250 appearing on his copy of the fiscal note. The ordinance directs the finance director to make the necessary budget adjustments and was adopted as a budget amendment requiring a two‑thirds affirmative vote.

A separately framed resolution authorized the county administrator to contract with University Alliance for EMS work group consultant services following a competitive RFP process; the proposal price cited in materials was $41,140 and was described as the low bid recommended by the Executive Committee. The board also approved several committee appointments and confirmed the appointment of Phil Rizzo to fill the District 17 supervisor vacancy.

Other actions included adoption of the Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan for 2025–2029 required by the federal Disaster Mitigation Act; a resolution supporting the county’s Clean Sweep household hazardous waste, e‑waste, tire recycling and drug take‑back program; multiple planning and zoning map amendments recommended by the Planning and Zoning Committee; and routine approvals of asphalt‑related vendor quotes and project scheduling authorities for county highway work.

Votes at a glance: the packet and meeting record show the PSAP grant/budget amendment passed with a roll‑call result recorded as 26 yes, 0 no, 4 absent. The personnel ordinance (shift differential) passed with a recorded vote of 26 yes, 0 no, 4 absent. Other resolutions and ordinances on the agenda were announced as passed in open session; specific roll‑call tallies were not provided in the transcript for every item and are listed in the official minutes.

The board met for its regular session and handled several committee reports and appointments before adjourning.