Highways division reports spring construction season, staffing vacancies and upcoming projects

Kenosha County Highways staff told the Public Works Department Committee crews moved from winter maintenance into spring construction work, with crack sealing complete, street sweeping and debris removal underway and planned paving slated to begin in mid‑May.

Staff reported ongoing work on shoulder repairs, radar sign installation on County Trunk K D and a multiuse path project along County Trunk Highway C. They said county crews are not responsible for a resurfacing project on State Highway 158, which is a Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) project.

Staff also described staffing needs: one open civil engineering position, two open mechanic positions and two open patrol worker positions. They said some offers have been made and they expect hiring activity in the coming weeks.

On procurement, staff said many vehicle and equipment orders remain on backorder and that higher material costs — particularly iron and steel — are affecting pricing. They described suppliers’ standard contract language that can permit price increases under certain conditions (strikes, supply chain disruptions), and said the county can reject an increased price if it chooses.

Why it matters: paving schedules, staffing levels and equipment availability affect when road repairs and improvements reach county roads and how the county responds to spring construction demands.

Ending: staff asked for continued awareness of division needs so vacancies can be included in committee packets and recruitment efforts.

Quotes and attributions in this article come from attendees recorded in the committee transcript.