Marquette County highway committee approves LRIP award, state bridge and paving projects and reviews budget

Marquette County Highway Committee Chair Mike Raddatz called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. March 17 at the Highway Department Office Building and online. Committee members present included Dave Benson, John Bennett, Kathy Jo Locke and Lance Achterberg; county staff in attendance included Brian Trebiatowski, Brenda Petersen and Ron Barger.

Brian Trebiatowski, speaking as highway department staff, reviewed the agenda and asked to add an LFA paving project to State Project Review; the committee approved the amended agenda on a motion by Lance Achterberg, seconded by Dave Benson. Members then approved the minutes from the Feb. 17, 2026 meeting on a motion by Kathy Jo Locke, seconded by Dave Benson.

Trebiatowski reviewed material bids and reported the LRIP project will be awarded to sole bidder WK Construction in the amount of $326,725. The committee moved to accept the material bids and to authorize using the bidder most advantageous to the county at the time of need based on availability and price; that motion, moved by Lance Achterberg and seconded by Kathy Jo Locke, carried.

On state-project business, Trebiatowski said the I-39 project is anticipated to begin in early May. He reported the Department of Transportation approved an amended RMA invoice related to a salt-dome replacement but that amended DMA approval and payment are still pending. Trebiatowski requested approval for a DMA project for DOT bridge work in the amount of $35,000 and for an LFA paving project on STH 82 in the amount of $115,000 once contracts are received; the committee approved both projects on a motion by Dave Benson, seconded by John Bennett.

Financial reports for February showed RMA costs of $93,510.05, largely for winter maintenance and roadside vegetation, equal to 24.03% of the RMA budget. County costs for February were $151,423, including $71,841 in county maintenance (primarily patching, brushing and training) and $79,582 for winter maintenance; Trebiatowski reported a remaining 2026 budget balance of $2,769,033.

Townships logged $157,458 in work for February with $65,944 in labor; Villages and the City recorded $1,851 in work with $52 in labor. Trebiatowski said year-to-date labor is up 22.12% versus the five-year average and up 4.35% compared with last year. Construction seasonal work is up 74.25% while winter maintenance is down 30.24% compared with the five-year average.

Interdepartmental fuel sales included 4,217 gallons sold in February and 9,068 gallons year-to-date. Reported average fuel prices for February were $2.5673 per gallon for unleaded and $3.1299 for diesel; those figures include the state tax of $0.309 per gallon. Trebiatowski also summarized labor percentages by job type for 2026 year-to-date: County work 48.00%, State 23.05%, Townships 28.86%, Interdepartmental 0.09%, and noted that 20.42% of the department’s labor is charged to the levied county budget, with the remainder covered by the Highway Operational Fund.

On capital projects, Trebiatowski reported that DL Gasser was the low bidder at the state letting for the CTH E STP Rural project at $2,322,324.15; NEA and Tri County Paving submitted higher bids. The CTH E project is expected to begin in mid-to-late August. He also said the Town of Montello has a DOT meeting scheduled May 12 regarding a local bridge on 14th, and that awards for last fall’s local-bridge cycle are expected in April. Trebiatowski noted the local small structure program (6-20 Structures) is accepting applications until May; ARIP awards are anticipated in April.

Operations and personnel updates included that the department assisted Buildings and Grounds with office carpet replacement and light upgrades and provided larger equipment for snow removal. Truck #009 failed to meet reserve at auction last year and will be relisted with a different auction company. The department has been at full staff since December; CESA LTE apprentices are working part-time to be available in summer and are limited to 1,200 hours over a rolling 12-month period.

Trebiatowski said he will attend Spring Commissioner Training in Green Lake County March 31–April 1 and will be out the week of March 23. He noted the April meeting may be canceled if there are no action items. Chair Raddatz declared the meeting adjourned at 9:20 a.m.

Next steps: the committee will proceed with the LRIP award administration, await the DMA contract paperwork for the bridge work and the LFA contract for STH 82 paving, and track the CTH E contract schedule for a mid-to-late August start.