Ashland County reports highway staffing, maintenance and paving updates; several projects under budget

Highway staff updated the Ashland County Highway Committee on personnel, maintenance work and capital projects, reporting steady full-time staffing, ongoing recruitment for summer positions and several paving and culvert projects scheduled this construction season.

Why it matters: staffing levels and project timing affect road conditions, emergency responses and county maintenance budgets.

Key operations and staffing - Staffing: Staff reported no change in full-time employees and said summer help recruitment is ongoing; one of four summer positions is filled. Committee members asked whether seasonal employees might qualify for unemployment depending on total hours worked and prior employment; staff said unemployment eligibility depends on the worker’s prior hours and state rules. - Routine maintenance: Crews have focused on brushing, patching and shoulder pulling; personnel also used a man lift to remove overhanging limbs in rights-of-way. Staff reported work on Madeline Island to remove dead trees and address limbs that posed fall risks to the road.

Construction and paving - Local projects: Two county highway resurfacing projects came in substantially under the county engineer’s estimates. One resurfacing bid (Quarry Road to city limits) came in about $12,700 under estimate; a second (city limits to Highway 13) came in roughly $196,000 under the county estimate. Staff said federal-bid estimates that include prevailing wages and full project elements are higher than county-only bids, explaining the difference. - State highway work: State Highway 169 (Mallon to Iron County line) is scheduled for resurfacing, culvert work and a new deck for the Bad River Bridge. Staff said pre-construction coordination and bird-netting to prevent nesting under the bridge deck were completed in preparation for the state project. - Culverts and bridges: County culvert projects and bridge work such as McCarthy Creek Bridge are in the multi-year plan; larger federal projects were discussed with anticipated bid letting in late 2026 or 2027 depending on federal schedules.

Snow fence and equipment - Snow fence: Staff said the county has not installed snow fence in recent years because equipment and landowner easement logistics made it impractical. Those conversations date back to before current staff, and the county reported limited usable stock of older fence material.

Administrative updates and permitting - DOT firewood permits: Staff described an incident on Madeline Island where county staff helped applicants complete DOT permit forms to remove timber from DOT right-of-way. A typographical error in an email address meant one adjoining landowner did not receive their permit notice; wood later was removed by other permit holders, one of whom was a department employee. The landowner alleged favoritism. Staff said the error was unintentional and that going forward the county will no longer assist applicants with DOT permit submission and will instead direct applicants to contact DOT directly to avoid any appearance of preferential treatment. - Post office agreement: Staff reported the county returned a modified agreement to the post office and had not yet received a signed copy; staff said they were waiting for the post office to sign and return the modified agreement.

Ending Staff will continue summer hiring outreach, advance culvert and paving projects, and follow up on the DOT permit process and the post office agreement. Committee members were invited to attend an April 28 state budget listening session to support increased gas tax or maintenance agreements with DOT.