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Prairie County road supervisors, commissioners consider 30‑mill levy and staffing options to keep roads running
Summary
Commissioners and road staff discussed a proposed 30‑mill road levy, staffing shortages in the road department and options such as biweekly pay and hiring to retain personnel. Road supervisor workload and maintenance costs were central to the discussion.
County road maintenance and staffing dominated a portion of the meeting as commissioners weighed a potential road levy and discussed how to address persistent staff shortages.
Road topics surfaced repeatedly during the morning discussion: supervisors and commissioners described a shrinking crew, extensive road miles to maintain and competing demands for vehicles and equipment. One participant noted the department had "2 or 3" people versus the larger crews of the past and that the county would need additional employees to maintain mileage targets (S4). Commissioners discussed placing a 30‑mill levy on the ballot to raise road department revenues and cover higher wages and mobilization costs for crushing gravel.
The board also discussed operational changes that could help retain staff, including moving from monthly to bimonthly or biweekly pay periods and exploring scheduling tools to reduce travel time. A consultant‑style speaker (S10) gave a high‑level staffing recommendation: for steady maintenance of 666 miles, a core crew of 8–12 people was advised. "For steady year round maintenance on 666 miles, you'd want a solid core of 8 to 12 people too," S10 said. Commissioners requested staff prepare more detailed cost estimates and a draft ballot language for any proposed levy before making a submission to the ballot.
