Highway director warns county needs $1.7 million in CIP or will lose state project funds

Highway staff told the committee the department identified several county trunk highway projects eligible for state cost-share funding but subject to a sunset timeline. To move forward on those projects — including County Road End and County Road N — the department estimates it needs about $1.7 million in additional capital improvement funding.

"If we don't do something next year, we're going to fall way behind," the presenter said, characterizing the county's maintenance cycle as a 57-year rotation if no additional investment is made. Staff said short-term borrowing or an incremental levy increase would be necessary to preserve state aid and proceed with projects tied to LRIP cost-share timelines.

Board members discussed past decisions to invest to raise GTA (state aid) and acknowledged the county has previously used targeted borrowing to capture additional state funds. Several supervisors urged that staff bring a clear plan to the county board showing which projects require CIP funding, the timing for LRIP deadlines, and financing options.

No formal action to borrow or increase levy was taken at the meeting; members asked staff to prepare materials for the county board and to show options for $500,000-per-year approaches and other scenarios.