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Woodbury County reviews secondary roads budget, considers vehicle replacements, bridge work and gravel project progress
Summary
Secondary Roads Director Laura Severs presented the FY27 secondary roads budget noting funding sources (about 60% road-use tax, 24% local option sales tax and 15% property tax) and a heavy share of maintenance expenditures. The board discussed an $84,004.15 estimate to replace a sprayer truck, a list of planned equipment purchases, and progress on a 10-year gravel project; motions to receive the materials carried 4-0.
Laura Severs, the county's secondary roads representative, presented the board with the FY27 secondary roads budget and prioritized equipment and project needs for the coming year.
Severs said nearly 60% of the secondary roads funding comes from road-use tax, about 24% from local option sales tax and roughly 15% from property taxes, and noted that maintenance and equipment account for roughly 74% of expenditures. She listed planned FY27 equipment purchases including a motor grader, mechanic's truck, skid steer and trailer, engineering truck, district tool truck, tandem trucks with trailers and mowers, and tied many purchases to maintaining the gravel project schedule.
On roadside management, Severs requested replacement of an aging sprayer truck and provided a cost estimate of $84,004.15 (a 2026 chassis estimated at $76,004.20 plus an example flatbed at $7,995). She said the current sprayer truck has more than 183,000 miles and that modern safety features would better protect the operator.
Severs also described plans to replace two aging bridges (U-155 and K-20). U-155 is about 129 feet long and 20 feet wide; K-20 is about 66 feet long and 16 feet wide. Both structures were built in the 1950s and carry 40-50 vehicles per day; replacement would increase width and improve safety.
The board discussed whether vehicle purchases should be placed in the county's CIP or moved into the rural basic fund; staff were directed to confirm the appropriate accounting treatment. Supervisors also discussed vendor quotes, overtime budgeting and a prior experience borrowing equipment from Monona County.
Ryan Erickson noted the county's local tax ask of $1.8 million remains the same as last year and that, based on valuation and LOST receipts, $1.8 million would satisfy the minimum contribution requirement. The board moved to receive the secondary roads budgets and related materials; the motions carried 4-0.
Separately, staff reported the gravel project is in its fourth year of a planned 10-year program; Severs said equipment purchases are intended to keep the project on schedule and improve long-term road conditions.
