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Highway department reports equipment shortfalls, staffing impacts and multiple upcoming projects
Summary
The highway commissioner reported five trucks out of service and recommended buying two trucks per year; staff described recent incidents, a crew injury, planned bridge closure in 2028, USH 8 bypass phasing, resurfacing and joint repairs, and an expected ~5% increase in salt costs.
Highway Commissioner Alex Hegeman gave an operational update describing equipment and personnel issues and several upcoming projects.
Hegeman said January revenues and expenses rose compared with a year earlier and noted that annual depreciation is used to fund equipment purchases. He reported five trucks were currently out of service and recommended purchasing two trucks per year because trucks are having major issues before reaching a 20‑year service life. Hegeman said he felt equipment funding was improving but that continued investment was necessary.
Hegeman also described recent incidents and staffing impacts: a vehicle pulled out in front of an employee and a truck will be inspected for possible frame damage; an employee broke three ribs and bruised a kidney while working on a front plow and the department will be down a mechanic for at least two weeks; crews are cutting trees on CTH G and have used a steamer to resolve drainage around guardrails; mastic work and pothole repairs are planned on USH 8 once roads dry.
On larger projects, Hegeman said the Kemp Street Bridge will be closed for approximately four months during its replacement in 2028 and that the first phase of the USH 8 bypass will begin with milling and resurfacing of portions of the route; a bypass lane will provide access to STH 17 south from USH 8 west and a roundabout at CTH G will be built in halves to maintain traffic during construction. He added that USH 45 between Three Lakes and Monico will be resurfaced this year and joint repair on USH 51 in downtown Minocqua will begin in April. Hegeman said the DOT salt bid will be posted soon and, based on historical prices, he expected about a 5 percent increase in salt costs.
On traffic calming, Robb Jensen said the temporary 25 mph speed limit installed during Kemp Street reconstruction before Sutliff Avenue was not addressed after construction; he recommended replacing the 25 mph sign with a 'reduced speed ahead' sign and coordinating with the City to move a radar speed sign. Dan Hess said a radar speed sign at the bridge has helped slow traffic.
Hegeman concluded that the department was fully staffed and that a new employee was training on a Minocqua route. The committee recorded future agenda items including campus projects and winter maintenance updates.
