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Committee reviews winter maintenance overrun, equipment shortages, sign request and Sand Lake landing updates
Summary
Interim Highway Commissioner Ben Rich told the committee winter maintenance costs are at about 126% of budget, the department currently has no spare trucks after recent breakdowns, and a new fifth‑wheel tractor arrived. The committee approved travel, a CTH C sign request (approx. $600) and postponed a Willow Road jurisdictional transfer until additional town action.
Committee members on April 2 heard a series of operational updates from Interim Highway Commissioner Ben Rich, approved several travel and sign requests and postponed a jurisdictional transfer request for Willow Road.
Rich reported winter maintenance for the DOT was at 126% and said the county figures were similar or higher. He also said the department currently had no spare trucks due to several recent breakdowns and that a new fifth‑wheel tractor had been delivered and was being set up. The committee approved out-of-county travel for a sign coordinator to Madison and committee attendance at the Summer Highway Conference in the Wisconsin Dells; both motions were recorded as carried.
Rich said WPS estimated $1,200 to run power to the Sand Lake boat landing and noted that state statute prevents the county from vacating the landing without Wisconsin DNR approval. On a safety request relayed from Bowen’s Bus Service, the committee approved two signs for CTH C at an approximate total cost of $600 after Rich reported that a bus driver had nearly been rear-ended multiple times this season. Bob Almekinder said the Town of Lynne requested the county take over Willow Road but added that the Town of Minocqua must also act; a motion to postpone consideration of the jurisdictional transfer carried.
No new policy changes or funding allocations for these items were approved at the meeting; committee members asked staff to bring back additional cost or follow-up information where needed.
