County engineer updates supervisors on hot-in-place recycling, Assmas Road grading and Sunnyside property sale

The Winnebago County secondary roads engineer updated supervisors on multiple road and shop projects at the July 29 meeting, including hot-in-place recycling on county routes, staging for Assmas Road grading, and preparations to market the Sunnyside property.

Why it matters: The projects affect travel conditions, agricultural access and county assets (shop and gravel stockpiles) over the coming months.

Hot-in-place recycling and paving Scott Rinders said a contractor has completed work on a five-mile curve west of Lake Mills and planned to continue north along R-50, finishing an L-shaped section and a second lane. The work uses hot-in-place recycling followed by painting; in other locations the county has added a surface layer for extra strength on truck routes. Rinders said the process was similar to prior work on R-16 and described the equipment as specialized reclaimers that pulverize and rework pavement in place.

Assmas Road and grading schedule Rinders said grading on the Assmas Road segment is expected to begin with pipe deliveries this week and grading starting the week of Aug. 4 (staff said “fourth or beginning of grading work”). He said borrow material will come from fields nearby and from leftover material from private home projects; contractors will need to coordinate with a local business for driveway and construction access. Staff noted a period when the road surface will be removed and reworked, requiring temporary traffic control and occasional temporary rock for access.

Shop building and Sunnyside property Rinders reported on underground utility work and finish trades at the county shop, saying Grow Electric and Young Plumbing were active on the office area. On the Sunnyside property, he said dirt work is largely complete and the county expects a public listing to go live this week. The county intends to allow a retained stockpile on the site until Sept. 1 of the following year to allow buyers time to remove material; staff said there is a legal description but not a full current survey of the whole property (a north 1‑acre survey exists).

Bids and contract award Separately under the bids agenda item, Rinders and staff detailed the bidding process for a road-reclamation project (project number as written on paperwork varied in the transcript). Bids were publicly opened and the low bidder was Buellen Brothers at $259,355.67; Rinders recommended acceptance and the board authorized the county engineer to execute the contract.

Ending: Staff said they will share the contract execution and construction schedule after signatures are obtained and will continue to coordinate notifications for work that reduces travel lanes.