County advances planning, RFPs and funding talks for potential highway shop relocation; incumbent commissioner to retire

Marathon County staff told the Infrastructure Committee on Aug. 7 they are advancing property-acquisition planning and procurement for a potential highway shop relocation and discussed funding strategies that could include substantial use of highway reserves and staged borrowing.

Staff said they held a mandatory pre-proposal meeting for architectural and design services that attracted 22 individuals representing 18 firms, and that proposals were due at 10:00 a.m. on Aug. 7. "We had 22 individuals at the meeting, representing 18 different firms. The RFP is due in 6 minutes. At 10:00, the RFPs are due," staff said during the meeting. County staff said they will review submittals immediately after the meeting and return to the committee with a recommended selection before proceeding to the next steps.

Committee members and staff discussed funding the relocation. Staff described a multi-stage funding approach: assigning a significant portion of highway reserves to the project for planning and early work, combining that with targeted borrowing at stages that fit arbitrage and project-timing rules, and then recycling proceeds from redevelopment of the current highway site back into reserves to mitigate interest costs. Staff said the current West Street highway property comprises roughly 8–9 acres and has redevelopment value; proceeds from sale or redevelopment would return to the highway reserve after the relocation is complete. "You have to pay for the relocation complete the relocation before you can sell the property you're currently operating on," staff noted, and described a strategy of using reserves and interim borrowing then recouping funds when the current site is redeveloped.

Staff also reviewed the capital impact of prior board decisions: an $8 million loan from the general fund (described in the packet) and other reserve uses reduced available rollover funds this year, leaving $0 rolling into the capital improvement program from the audit. Staff and committee members emphasized that borrowings occur in tranches to meet arbitrage rules and to seek more advantageous interest rates.

Separately, Highway Commissioner Jim Griesbach said he will retire and that Kevin (last name not provided in the transcript) has been selected as the next highway commissioner; a highway shop superintendent hire remains in negotiation. "Kevin has been selected to follow me up to serve as the next commissioner," Griesbach said. Committee members thanked Griesbach for his service and praised his record of securing state and federal funding.

Staff said they will bring a recommended firm for architectural services back to the committee in a subsequent meeting and will present more-detailed funding options tied to sites, cost estimates and borrowing scenarios. No final property acquisitions or bonding decisions were made at the Aug. 7 meeting.

A separate agenda item covers highway project updates and safety; staff noted a number of bridge projects will start after Labor Day and that borrowing costs are higher than in recent years.