Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Highway commissioner reports staffing shortfalls, outlines spring and summer projects
Loading...
Summary
The highway commissioner told the Ashland County Highway Committee the department is short two full‑time employees, is running low on winter salt and has several spring and summer projects planned including culvert work, bridge replacement and DOT road work.
At a meeting of the Ashland County Highway Committee, the highway commissioner reported the department remains short two full‑time employees for the Ashland shop and is relying on part‑time help to fill gaps. “We’re still looking for 2 full time employees,” the highway commissioner said.
The commissioner described recent winter work—heavy ice control, plowing and patching—and said crews are low on salt after a winter with several ice events. He noted the department typically hires four summer workers and has three committed so far, plus one part‑time employee, Dean Hallstrom, who started in March and “is working out great,” though the commissioner said Hallstrom may be unable to obtain a commercial driver’s license, limiting a full‑time offer.
Looking ahead, the commissioner outlined a slate of spring and summer projects. He said crews are cutting brush south of Clam Lake, addressing multiple patching locations (including Highway 13 south of Glidden) and plan crack sealing and mastic work. He described four culvert replacement projects the county will pursue this summer and estimated “probably 200 plus thousand dollars worth of work” related to those culverts.
The committee also heard updates on larger projects involving state and federal partners. The commissioner said State Highway 13 crews have begun tree clearing ahead of a work window and that main roadwork is expected to start late this month; State Highway 77 did not yet have a pre‑construction meeting scheduled. He said the McCarthy Creek bridge has a pre‑construction meeting planned for early May and that the contractor will likely close County GG for about a month in June to replace the structure.
The commissioner cautioned that some federal grant funding carries caps: “It pays a 100% if it comes within that dollar amount. Over the dollar amount we have to pay,” he said in reference to a grant he estimated at about $2,000,000 for a 6.5‑mile repaving segment. Committee members pressed for clarity on timing and costs; the commissioner said precise dates and final contractor schedules remain subject to DOT and contractor timelines.
The committee set its next meeting for May 11 and discussed a possible field tour for new members to view Ashland shop operations and recent island riprap work.
