Chris, Chippewa County's highway commissioner, presented the annual highway operations report required by state statute and answered supervisors' questions on long-term road funding.

Paving and maintenance: The commissioner reported 12.9 miles paved this year out of 488 county highway miles, below the roughly 20 miles per year implied by a 25-year resurfacing cycle. He said the county did about 20.7 miles of chip sealing and noted that the 2026 capital improvement plan projects 9.4 miles of paving (a roughly 51.9-year replacement cycle at that rate) and 31 miles of chip seal for next year. The commissioner described the paving shortfall as an ongoing funding challenge.

Bridges and culverts: Chris said the county completed four bridge replacement projects during the year (including County M bridges at Big Elk Creek and Mud Creek and the County G bridge on the Yellow River in Colburn) and finished the County Q deck and superstructure replacement near Tilden. He reiterated that the county works with towns on culvert aid under a 50/50 matching arrangement.

Winter maintenance and salt: The presentation reviewed winter maintenance funding (noting a proposed $1.5 million levy for 2026) and said the county is reducing rock-salt use by improving brine application; the state salt bid for 2025-26 was cited at $108.95 per ton.

Equipment and staffing: The commissioner said supply-chain delays have eased; three patrol trucks purchased in 2023 have arrived and 2025 equipment purchases are in service. The 2026 equipment plan calls for three patrol trucks, a pressure washer and a chipper. He reported the department is fully staffed for the first time in years and that a new deputy highway commissioner will start Dec. 8.

Funding outlook and questions from supervisors: Supervisors asked about long-term strategies to close the maintenance gap. The commissioner and other officials discussed possible revenue options including legislative authorization for a half-percent sales tax (previously discussed by county associations), a wheel tax, additional borrowing, or potential increases to the state gas tax. The highway commissioner summarized the situation: funding options are limited at the county level and "it's a money problem," while some state-level discussions (including proposals about the gas tax) were noted as possible paths forward.

Ending: The commissioner closed by noting a number of special projects (bike-trail signage and cooperative work with emergency management) and thanking staff; supervisors thanked the department for responsiveness on local issues.