Ashland County highway committee approves bridge-aid policy, takes vehicle-use and other actions

The Ashland County Highway Committee approved an amended bridge-aid policy and took a series of administrative votes while declining to adopt a public concrete disposal program.

The committee voted to approve changes intended to align its bridge-aid policy with state statute, including requiring town petitions before any levy and preserving a roughly 50/50 cost split. Caroline Twombly, Ashland County finance supervisor, told the committee that counsel advised petitions must precede a levy and “the statute doesn’t allow us to put a monetary cap on our levy.” The committee approved the amended policy by voice vote; the change would not affect tax bills until the levy cycle that funds 2027 work.

Why it matters: The bridge-aid policy creates a formal pathway for towns to seek county help paying for culvert and small-bridge repairs while limiting repeated county replacements; it shapes which local projects will be eligible for taxpayer-backed levies and when funds would be available.

In other business, the committee reviewed the highway department’s proposed 2027 capital package and voted to forward it to the finance committee for further review. Commissioner (speaker 1) described the central construction request as County Highway F (Birchwood Lane to the Iron Town line), about 3.3 miles, and said an engineering estimate put the project at roughly $1.6 million with $262,000 of LRIP funding, leaving an approximate $1.3 million county share. The committee also approved forwarding vehicle and equipment requests, including an annual plow-truck replacement ($370,000 estimate) and a proposed $200,000 mini excavator with attachments for brushing and culvert work.

The committee also approved continuing assigned take-home vehicles for positions with 24/7 emergency response responsibilities (the highway commissioner, patrol superintendent and shop superintendent). The highway commissioner argued that assigned vehicles reduce response time for road hazards and severe-weather events; after discussion about possible misuse and mileage, the committee approved the practice by voice vote.

On the post office lease dispute, members voted to accept an offer from the post office to reimburse county costs incurred at the site plus one year’s lease payment, and to sever further ties once reimbursement is received. Committee discussion emphasized securing payment before final release. A committee member called the post office’s handling of the site a “total disaster” and urged the county to recover its costs.

The meeting closed after the committee approved an updated Adopt-a-Highway application for public volunteers to maintain short segments of county road and set August 10 for a follow-up meeting to review operational budgets.

Votes at a glance (by voice vote, tallies not specified in the transcript): - Approved amended bridge-aid policy (motion carried). - Forwarded 2027 capital package and equipment requests to finance committee (motion carried). - Approved continued take-home vehicles for emergency-response positions (motion carried). - Approved Adopt-a-Highway application (motion carried). - Accepted post office offer to reimburse county costs plus one year’s lease payment and cut ties pending payment (motion carried).

What happened next: Several items the committee discussed — chiefly the capital budget and final county board approval of the bridge-aid policy — will return to the finance committee or go to the full county board for final decisions.

Attributions: Quotes and policy descriptions are drawn from committee discussion and presentations by Caroline Twombly, Ashland County finance supervisor, and the highway commissioner (speaker 1).