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Oneida County Public Works Committee approves routine items, authorizes diesel pickup purchase contingent on executive review
Summary
The committee approved routine agenda items — minutes, vendor vouchers, out-of-county travel — and approved purchase of a diesel pickup for the highway commissioner contingent on confirming whether the over-budget amount requires executive-committee approval.
At its April 30, 2026 meeting, the Oneida County Public Works Committee approved routine business including minutes, vendor vouchers and out-of-county travel and authorized the purchase of a diesel pickup truck for the highway commissioner contingent on approval procedures for the overage.
Bob Almekinder moved and Billy Fried seconded approval of the meeting agenda and the committee approved it. The committee also voted to approve the minutes of the April 16, 2026 meeting and to approve vendor vouchers as presented.
The committee approved out-of-county travel for committee members and the interim highway commissioner to attend the TDA Turnout for Transportation Roundtable in Wausau on May 20, 2026.
Interim Highway Commissioner Ben Rich noted that the truck purchase was included in the 2026 capital-improvement plan (CIP) but that selecting a diesel model would exceed the CIP budgeted amount of $55,000. Dan Hess and Bob Almekinder supported moving forward with the purchase with the contingency that staff check whether the overage requires referral to the executive committee; that contingent motion carried.
Rich provided equipment updates, including plow removals to prepare for construction season, replacement of a rusted dump-truck box with a stainless unit on hand, delivery of a new tandem-axle truck expected next week, and a tar kettle out of service while awaiting a part. He also reported pothole complaints scheduled for same-day repairs, mailbox replacements where appropriate, removal of snow fence from CTH K and STH 17, tree removal along CTH G, and several construction bids to be opened May 5.
Votes at a glance: - Approve agenda: Motion by Almekinder/Fried — carried. - Approve minutes (April 16, 2026): Motion by Hess/Almekinder — carried. - Approve vendor vouchers: Motion by Almekinder/Hess — carried. - Approve out-of-county travel to Wausau (May 20, 2026): Motion by Cushing/Fried — carried. - Approve diesel pickup purchase (contingent on executive approval check): Motion by Cushing/Almekinder — carried.
The committee listed future agenda items including review of an RMA letter to DOT, the jurisdictional transfer request (to be revisited), RFB and RFP results for upcoming projects, and then adjourned at 9:02 a.m.
