Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Marathon County project team presents 30% design and $53M preliminary estimate for new highway facility
Summary
County staff and consultants presented a 30% schematic design for a new Marathon County highway facility on a 24‑acre site, described building program and brine/wash operations, and reported a preliminary schematic estimate of $53 million; construction is targeted to begin spring 2027 with move‑in summer 2028.
Marathon County project staff and consultants presented schematic designs and an initial budget check for a proposed new highway facility, outlining the site layout, building program, utility coordination, schedule and cost estimate.
Kevin Lang, the county highway commissioner, introduced the project team and thanked highway department staff for recent snowstorm response efforts. Architect Ned Dirkson walked the board through the 24‑acre site plan, identifying three primary structures: the main building housing offices, maintenance and heated truck storage; a salt storage building; and a tempered storage building. Dirkson described functionality in the maintenance area (central parts desk, separate weld/fabrication bay), two wash bays, and temperature‑controlled truck parking with floor drains and service utilities.
Project staff said they coordinated with the village of Croninaw on stormwater and water supply, including potential use of an old right‑of‑way for detention and negotiation about potable municipal water for offices versus private high‑capacity wells to serve high‑volume brine production and wash bays.
On material storage, the architect identified inventory planning (SD figures cited): "8,000 tons of normal salt, 4,000 of sand salt, and then 2,000 of solar salt," and described an on‑site brine‑making room. The team said schematic design (30%) is complete, with design development (60%) and 90% to follow; construction was targeted to start in spring 2027 and a move‑in target for summer 2028.
The project team presented a preliminary SD budget check at about $53 million (compared with an earlier $50 million planning target). Presenters said estimates will be refined at later design checkpoints, and the county intends to use a construction manager at risk model; the board will revisit the project when the guaranteed maximum price is established.
Supervisors asked technical questions about water use: Kevin Lang estimated brine needs at roughly 1.5–2.0 million gallons annually and noted wash‑bay use per truck; staff said potable municipal water would be used for the office and fire protection while private wells could supply high‑volume process needs. On financing, presenters said the board has set aside $30 million in highway reserves; the final funding approach (borrowing or other strategies) will be decided by the board when construction is authorized.
The board did not take a recorded final construction authorization vote during this session; the resolution before the board at the time was to authorize proceeding with phase 2 design services.
