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County outlines tree removal, road milling and paving plan near Rice Lake; work expected to start in February
Summary
County staff described a multi-week tree removal, stump grinding, roadway milling and paving plan for the Rice Lake/clubhouse area, including easement confirmations and a contract with a local tree service. Supervisors were briefed on schedule, scope and homeowner impacts.
County roads staff briefed Winnebago County supervisors on plans for tree trimming and removal, roadway milling and paving, culvert replacement and related work in the Rice Lake/clubhouse area and an adjacent subdivision.
The county has contracted with Arness and Tree Service to trim and remove trees along a right-of-way approaching the clubhouse. Staff said the right-of-way is 66 feet wide, acquired from the Department of Natural Resources and the golf course, and most trees within that strip will be removed except selected hardwoods the golf course asked to keep. Work was described as likely beginning around Feb. 1 and taking about four weeks; stump grinding rather than digging is planned because February conditions make grinding easier.
County staff also described preparations to allow pavers and trucks to access the subdivision: trimming low-hanging branches and removing small volunteer trees to create a box for truck clearance, milling the last two feet of individual driveways so paving can make a neat joint at each property and performing targeted shouldering and driveway work with county crews to match existing surfaces (blacktop, concrete, gravel). The county intends to mill portions of the roadway to avoid steep slope issues and expects to leave the final surface near existing grade in many cases.
On drainage and culverts, staff reported plans to replace a deteriorated culvert near a tee box with a slightly larger, 24-inch flared concrete section already in county inventory; staff said the flow from that location travels via a 100-foot swale toward the lake. Roadway widths were discussed: the plans use a 22-foot pavement width up to the clubhouse and 18 feet within the subdivision; material choices for shoulders will vary (gravel, topsoil) and the county may bring in a limited number of dirt truckloads to achieve at least a two-foot shoulder in narrow places.
Traffic and access: supervisors were told the project will be bid as one- or two-lane paving; in most places paving will proceed one lane at a time. Staff said they will schedule operations and notify residents when short access interruptions are necessary and that emergency vehicles will be able to drive over the asphalt as needed.
Easements and title work: legal counsel has reviewed historic real-estate records for certain small easement strips (often five-foot-wide descriptions along named roads). Staff said they will send easement agreements to lenders later to reaffirm easements sold in the 1980s that county counsel believes belong to the county.
Why it matters: the work affects residents in the Rice Lake/clubhouse neighborhood and will change roadside vegetation, access during construction windows and some driveway interfaces. Supervisors emphasized the goal of minimizing homeowner disruption and working with homeowners on retaining walls and other existing structures. No formal board action was taken; the item was presented as an informational project update to give supervisors the schedule and key details.
Ending: Staff said they will provide residents notice ahead of work and follow up with more detailed schedules and any required easement documentation.
