The Marathon County Infrastructure Committee voted unanimously to recommend using the recently revised General Transportation Aid (GTA) projection to help fund a larger culvert/bridge replacement on County Road HH.

Administrator Leonard, speaking during the committee's budget discussion, said the state-provided GTA projection "is $194,678 higher than what we projected when we built the budget." He cautioned, however, that the projection is not guaranteed and the state can modify the number later.

Highway Commissioner Kevin told the committee the culvert site is on Springwood Creek, a Class 1 trout stream in the county's northeast corner, and that two existing metal culverts are failing. "We engaged with RA Smith to perform a hydrology and hydraulic analysis," he said, adding that meeting DNR and hydraulic-velocity guidance raised the project cost. "It took our $425,000 estimate up into the $650,000 range for that structure." He described options considered — a like-for-like culvert replacement, box culverts, precast concrete openings, or a bridge — and said the larger opening would reduce stream velocities and erosion.

Supervisors asked about alternative grants and funding. Kevin said agricultural infrastructure (ARIP) funds may be applicable for larger culverts but the initial application cycle deadline had passed and there is no guarantee of award. Administrator Leonard outlined internal alternatives: identify under-budget capital projects, reassign funds, use highway reserves, or bring a formal budget amendment to HR Finance and Property if necessary. "If we do need to amend the budget to go into reserves, that's kind of the last step," Leonard said.

Supervisor Jensen moved "to recommend that we use the additional GTA funding to help with this bridge bridge project," with Supervisor Griner seconding. The committee voted in favor by voice vote; the chair recorded unanimous approval.

The committee did not adopt a final contract or appropriation; the action was to forward a recommendation that HR Finance and Property consider a resolution or budget amendment to allocate the additional GTA funds toward the County Road HH project. Committee members asked staff to continue exploring grant opportunities and to return cost and funding options if final design confirms the higher estimate.