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Everybody,
>> click.

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» Good morning. Joe Baratka
>> here.

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» Doug Ericson
>> here.

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» Larry Pichek
>> here.

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» Jordan Spacic.
>> Jeff Olrich

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» here.
>> All are present.

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» Thank you. Items for discussion and
possible action.

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Public comment.
>> Let the record reflect. No one is here

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for public comment. Anybody online? Star
six to unmute yourself for public

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comment.

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Anything, Nick?
>> Okay, we'll move on to communications.

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I have nothing. Any of the committee
members have anything? So, Mr. Chairman,

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um yesterday I attended the um WebEx for
the Highway 70 resurfacing project by

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the DOT. So that's a uh scheduled in
2029 19.1 miles starting from five field

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going to the 09 the county line 2 in of
mil and then they're going to resurface

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it. There are some bridge work and seven
culverts that are going to be replaced

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and they're just going to be doing one
lane flagging for that. Here's a summary

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of that particular meeting if you'd like
that.

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» Did you attend that Roger?

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No, Larry, I was busy. But this is just
um preliminary

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uh plans. They're just they're just
doing scoping of the project. So, um

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later on I'll be more involved in
there'll be a premeating prior even to

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design even yet. So, there's there's
there's more meetings to come. So,

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» okay. Thank you. Thanks, Jeff, for that.
>> Mr. Chairman, just a quick FYI, I can

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vouch for Roger. He was doing county
business,

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» was he? [laughter]
I saw him.

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» Can anybody else vouch for him?
[laughter]

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» Yeah, the the meeting there was minimal
people on the meeting.

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» Do you have anything else on that, Jeff?
>> No, I I mean Rob Somerfeld's office was

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on, Senator Jesse James office was on,
um Schwaman

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school board or administrator, and then
a town of Ffield board member was on and

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the rest were were um DOT folks. So
again,

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» okay, thank you.
>> You're welcome.

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» Item number two, minutes from our August
5th meeting. What's your pleasure on

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that, gentlemen?

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» I will make a motion to approve those
minutes.

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» Motion by
>> second.

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» Second by Spacic.
Any further discussion? All in favor

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signify by saying I.
>> I.

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» Opposed? Motion carried. Item three,
five-year capital improvement plan.

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Roger, your moment to sun.
We have it in our packet.

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» Yeah, we made some adjustments and
cleaned it up. So, I guess if anybody

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has any further
comments, questions or concerns.

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Um so like all of it is contingent on
funding and

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um [clears throat] sometimes even like
if there is DOT work closer to the area

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where um it would be better to move a
project around it's just they're there

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the needs are there.
So,

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» anybody have any questions or or
comments on

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the five-year improvement capital
improvement plan?

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Mr. Chair, if I may.
>> Yes, go ahead.

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» Um,
funding request $3.1 million. That's

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been standard for quite a while here.
It's not any higher or lower. It's not

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what But I'm just My point is it's
nothing new.

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» No, it's nothing new. Um you know, and
I'm not requesting any

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above that for inflation. It's we'll
just do what we do with what we got. So

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very very grateful for what we get.

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Okay. the equipment side of that plan.

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» Um, back on back on the highway plan, do
you think there's going to need to be

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any like rut wedging done on H? I know
there's a lot of complaints out there

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already to you know
>> Yeah.

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» at least the first three miles beyond
that it's not as bad. Yeah,

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» we did that last Monday.
>> Oh, you did?

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» Oh, yep.
>> Okay. Good work. There's no [laughter]

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complaint.
>> No, no, but I just we haven't had a

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meeting for a while and whatnot. So,
>> yeah.

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» And I
>> That looks good for you, Jordan. And

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it's not even election year.
>> Yeah. [laughter]

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» No, I just got to I got to become the
board chair and move to the right side

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of town to get the right road done.
[laughter]

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» Facilities update.
>> Just just a joke.

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» Fiveyear plan. [laughter]
We actually routed everything from town

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all the way out. [laughter]
Came back on

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» spots, but
>> Oh, good. That'll make that better.

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» Are there any other
>> uh question on the equipment? Do we

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maybe maybe this is just on there just
to be on there. Do we need a patch

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trailer every year? I guess
>> um

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» because there's one in 27, one in 28,
and one in 30, and I feel like didn't we

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just approve one? Yeah. So, one that
would be ultimately pulled off, I guess.

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But,
>> um, we have one other one, too, that

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needs to be replaced, but
>> Okay.

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» It depends on what year we get it.
>> Well, yeah, I understand that, but I

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just
>> ultimately most of those items over

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there don't get financed.
>> Sure.

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» Um, so I don't know if there's a plan.
So this is just the yellow equipment

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program.
>> Our trucks are separate to this

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» trucks are separate. So the the the plow
truck um that we know we can afford

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every year and a pickup.
Um other than that it's kind of

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» and that's through the equipment fund.
>> Correct.

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Yeah. So
>> so this is additional

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» this is additional equipment
>> outside of equipment fund.

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» Yep. that's needed outside the equipment
fund.

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» And this is the one that's truly
dependent on fin, you know, if if the

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financing is there. So, like Roger was
saying, there's an equipment fund that

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we know we're doing the one truck and
hopefully some smaller stuff. Um, that

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equals what 450 to 500 each year. And
then we have uh one truck we usually

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borrow for. So, that's outside of this
yellow in in a sense. And then now this

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is the new request is this yellow
equipment um which we talked about at

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executive. We've brought it up at the
board where that's where the board has

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to decide are we increasing the debt to
start purchasing more equipment or at

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what rate do you do it? Do you do you
know this is a great plan but it needs

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to be extended every other year or
something with borrowing.

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» Yeah. No big items were bought last
year.

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So
the year before that was a greater and

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boom tractor.

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» Came close to buying a wheel loader.
>> Yeah, close.

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» Any other questions?

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» Any questions on the facilities?

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I think we went over this last time, but
the bunkers are to be able to store like

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rock and stuff out. Yes. At the
>> shed. Like

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is that something that needs to be
>> We don't need like a roof or anything

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over anything like that. And that'll be
out in the middle on the pad.

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» Yeah. The old sand pad.
>> Okay.

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» Yeah. So, no no base or no bottom. It's
just concrete blocks. Just the blocking

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and whatnot.
>> Placing them. Yeah.

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There aren't any further questions.

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So, it looks like looks like we have
multiple sites where we're storing

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different things. I see 704 North Lake
Avenue, old 13. That's going to sol. I

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see, you know, building a bunker here,
you know, building a building here for

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tar storage, building a Is there a
way of just doing one larger building

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for everything versus having like
multiple

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little buildings to maintain?
>> Well, so the bunkers don't have any

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roofs on them or anything. So that's
just out on the sand pad, but to store

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the the tar is just a building cuz now
right now it sits outside and when after

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a period of a winter and some rain and
they're it's they're wrapped in

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cardboard and everything just kind of
>> it doesn't weather well outside.

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» Okay.
>> And correct me if I'm wrong, Roger, but

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just the way our facilities are set up.
So our main shop here on 13 has limited

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storage. So we have another facility the
mile and a half away got to have two

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loaders there if you have a loader out
and so if you need material at both

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spots just for efficiency wise it makes
sense just maybe the logistical side of

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it to kind of wrap your head around why
he's looking at it that way. Is that

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kind of what you're thinking too?
>> Yeah. Yeah.

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» Yeah.
>> Didn't we discuss putting the lean two

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off of the salt shed at one point?
>> I believe there was discussion on it.

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Um, you know, and and there again, I
mean, that's kind of one of the spots

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where the loader storage would be.
>> Sure.

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» Um, would be like either lean to
building or something off, you know, you

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get into if it's totally enclosed and
heated, then you get into all kinds of

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regulations that you got to do. So, this
would be more cold storage type of where

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» three walls.
>> Yeah. [laughter]

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Where we could plug it in, you know, and
Yeah. And I think when that was being

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discussed, wasn't it? We didn't have the
the sand shed yet. So the loader was

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either parked in the salt shed, which is
a bad idea to have a loader in salt shed

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where now you have the the sand shed
that I'm assuming you're able to

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[clears throat] use for somewhat of a
storage.

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» Yep. Yeah. So we uh this this summer we
ran power out there. So now we can plug

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in an end loader out by the sand shed.
And so

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small improvements at a time. It's going
well.

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Doug looks in deep thought. You have any
comments, Doug?

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» Not [laughter] really. Just which shop
roof are you talking here? Read

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» it' be like it'd be uh at at the at our
main shop here. So that that steel

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» the new new part or No, the old
>> No, that's a flat roof, isn't it?

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» On the new building. Yeah, the new the
phase one is is um yeah, that

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rubber rough with the stone on it. I I
had Josh Josh went up there and looked

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at it and he said that's that's fine
yet. But like um the rock shop and and

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going forward that So like there's I
don't know what the ceiling and the roof

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is made out of, but that stuff's falling
down and the insulation's falling down

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out of the ceiling.

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was built in 1939.
>> Oh, [laughter]

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» some new white tin would probably
brighten it up in there a little.

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[clears throat]

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» When that was finished, there was a big
beer party there and a picnic and a

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dance.
Oh,

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» free beer. You missed, Jordan.
>> Were you alive then, Larry? [laughter]

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In 39?
>> Yeah.

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» Oh, okay.
heard stories.

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» I paid I paid attention listening to
old-timers.

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» Any other questions on our five-year
capital improvement plan?

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If not, I'll entertain a motion to
accept it and pass it on to county board

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or does it have to go to executive?
>> It would go to the budget process. So,

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okay. Yeah, I would. You guys are
motioning to say this is what we want to

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forward to the budget and then it'll
we'll put it as best we can. The

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00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:10,880
executive will look at it, then the
board will look at it.

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» I'll make that motion.
>> Motion by Baratka.

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» I'll second.
>> Seconded by Spacic. Any further

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discussion?
All in favor signify by saying I.

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» I opposed. Motion carried.
Rice County Highway Department

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00:13:25,519 --> 00:13:32,839
construction projects to be finished
financed with short-term debt in 2027

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highway and transportation and
executive.

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00:13:37,839 --> 00:13:44,240
Nick,
you have something or you want to take

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00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:47,680
that? Roger.
>> I guess it's just the same as every

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00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:51,839
year, right? For the past few years.
>> Yep. So this is just getting ahead of it

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so that if this is what's going to go in
the budget, we can get those what we

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like to do is get these resolutions
saying we are going to borrow done

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sooner than later so it's not to the
budget process and in November you're

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00:14:03,680 --> 00:14:11,839
trying to get them done. Um this really
sets up the budget prior to the budget,

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00:14:09,839 --> 00:14:15,519
right? Are you going to borrow the 3.1?
Are you going to borrow the same for

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equipment? Are you going to borrow those
things? So, it's it's reviewing that to

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00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:26,480
get that process started so that when we
put the the budget forward,

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those numbers are already in it saying
you as a board have made that decision.

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00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:34,519
It has to be a three-4 vote by the full
board to borrow money.

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00:14:39,839 --> 00:14:47,600
» So, you're looking for a motion on that?
>> Yes. I'll make that motion too.

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00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:52,199
» I'll second.
>> Motion by all, second by Ericson.

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» Any further discussion?
>> All in favor signify by saying I.

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00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,920
» I.
>> Opposed?

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00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:05,920
So carried.
>> Larry, could I ask you a question quick?

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00:15:03,839 --> 00:15:10,639
So for that, I do have a resolution
ready, but I didn't put it on the agenda

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as a resolution. Do you want that signed
today or

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00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:18,320
» if it's not on the agenda? We can't.
>> It's not on the agenda as of

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00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:21,760
» That's fine. But it was in our mailbox,
>> right? It's just a Is this what the

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00:15:20,399 --> 00:15:27,760
amount you want? You want to do the
normal amount, the $3.1 million

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00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:32,399
um executive will review it. We have a
process. Yeah. So, you guys are

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00:15:29,519 --> 00:15:37,519
comfortable with the 3.1 based on your
the list is really what it comes down

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00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:41,300
to. So that's just a preliminary proof
of the draft of the resolution.

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[laughter]

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00:15:43,519 --> 00:15:49,800
» Are you comfortable with that?
Obviously, we'd like more, but

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uh that is fine. I mean, we we did a
phenomenal amount of work this year. So,

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00:15:57,519 --> 00:16:01,519
um
>> was good and dry.

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00:15:58,959 --> 00:16:04,720
» It was good and dry. Yeah. But too
dusty. That was it.

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00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:07,680
» Trust me, I know little Chicago was
really dusty last

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00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:10,776
» three weeks. I couldn't I don't know how
people live on gravel roads. [laughter]

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00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:17,839
» So, for now, we're going to treat that
as information item. Meredith.

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00:16:17,199 --> 00:16:23,759
» Correct.
>> Do we need to meet before the No. Okay.

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00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:28,160
Before the next meeting.
>> I believe it's a resolution for the

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00:16:25,519 --> 00:16:34,560
future and that's just a number for
information and discussion.

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00:16:31,519 --> 00:16:38,480
I'm guessing the question is does does
this committee have to approve the

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00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:44,519
resolution before it gets to executive?
My feeling is the answer is no, but I

218
00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,519
don't know.

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00:16:45,199 --> 00:16:50,160
» Oh, you're asking? [clears throat]
>> No, I I I'll have to look at history,

220
00:16:48,079 --> 00:16:54,800
but I it it doesn't need multiple
committees to approve it. It's you guys

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00:16:52,399 --> 00:16:59,360
are recommending 3.1 executives building
the the the

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00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:03,199
» budget. they'll bring forward a
resolution 3.1.

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00:17:01,811 --> 00:17:07,520
[clears throat] We'll go from there. So,
I we'll we have time. We'll we'll we'll

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00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:14,439
map it out and make sure we get
everybody, but I think that's just the

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00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:14,439
that's where we'll go with it.

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00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:27,839
Are you finished, Nick? Okay. Item five,
Price County Highway Department 28

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00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:32,640
through 32, equipment improvement
program, highway and transportation.

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00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:35,600
» What's your pleasure on that, gentlemen?
>> I'll make a motion to approve the

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00:17:33,919 --> 00:17:39,240
resolution.
>> Motion by SPAC.

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00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:48,320
» Second.
>> Second by any further discussion?

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00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:56,240
All in favor signify by saying I. I. I.
>> Opposed. Motion carried.

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00:17:52,400 --> 00:18:01,280
Item six, resolution for facilities
improvement program, highway and

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00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:05,840
transportation.
What's your pleasure on that?

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00:18:03,039 --> 00:18:08,880
» I'll make a motion to approve.
>> Second.

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00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:12,080
» Motion by Spacic, second by Barata.
>> Ericson.

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00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:17,440
» Ericson.
>> You got to make sure he's here today.

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00:18:15,679 --> 00:18:23,520
» Might be awake. [laughter]
>> Any further discussion?

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00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:27,960
All in favor signify by saying I. I.
>> I.

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00:18:24,559 --> 00:18:27,960
» Motion carried.

240
00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:38,799
Item number seven has been crossed out.
Price County Highway Department policy

241
00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:44,320
billing for requested assistance. Roger.
>> So the state of Wisconsin is not taking

242
00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:49,520
on any more customers. Correct. So as
far as when it comes to

243
00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:53,760
» we've been put on the list. So when they
do because they have too many

244
00:18:51,280 --> 00:19:00,960
outstanding customers right now once
they reopen up then we'll be contacted

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00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:06,799
to apply but they do have a trip that we
could apply for if we wanted to

246
00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:11,600
» tax refund
um plan.

247
00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:14,799
Excuse me. Would you like to use the
microphone

248
00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,880
on mine? I'm fine.
>> You don't have a choice. Use the

249
00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:21,200
microphone.
>> I can hear you well but [laughter]

250
00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:24,880
We don't charge for that. Sarah can sit
right there and use that.

251
00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:30,039
» You can use any of these. Yeah.
>> Sarah likes to remain in the back row

252
00:19:27,039 --> 00:19:30,039
silent.

253
00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:37,039
» I'm trying to make Roger remember
everything.

254
00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:42,640
» Good luck. [laughter]
>> So, currently the state doesn't take any

255
00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:46,960
more customers because of the fact that
they have too many outstanding ones that

256
00:19:45,039 --> 00:19:51,039
they're going after. So, we've been put
on a list. So when they do start taking

257
00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:56,960
people back in, they'll contact us and
then we can go through that process.

258
00:19:53,200 --> 00:20:02,960
Right now they do have a trip one that
we could do if we wanted to, which is

259
00:19:58,559 --> 00:20:08,640
tax refund inception plan. Um that one
though

260
00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:13,919
isn't, you know, that's kind of a base
by base kind of situation though. That's

261
00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:17,720
not actually an agreement with them long
term, per se.

262
00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:31,280
I got at this point we'll just do as we
previously we'll try and build on on

263
00:20:28,799 --> 00:20:36,080
instances like this whether or not we
can get the the landowner to to

264
00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:41,280
reimburse us through their insurance or
whatever happens at this point.

265
00:20:38,799 --> 00:20:44,960
» This is for assistance on uh
emergencies.

266
00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:50,640
» Yep. So if we get called out on for
whatever it is and um

267
00:20:48,799 --> 00:20:56,720
that we can try to recoup some of our
funds from I mean especially like when

268
00:20:53,200 --> 00:21:01,120
we have a guy go out twice on a weekend
you know we're paying overtime it gets

269
00:20:59,120 --> 00:21:04,919
expensive by the time we send equipment
and and men out.

270
00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:09,320
Okay.

271
00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:16,720
So for now that's anformational item.
>> Correct.

272
00:21:14,559 --> 00:21:20,559
» Item nine,
highway mechanic recruitment.

273
00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:25,520
» Roger.
>> So we have been reaching out to other

274
00:21:22,159 --> 00:21:29,159
counties. I believe Sarah has
most of that information.

275
00:21:31,120 --> 00:21:38,760
» You're going to make me talk on all of
this, aren't you? Um, so I reached out

276
00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:38,760
to the surrounding,

277
00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:46,600
let me just pull it up.
Um, counties around us.

278
00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:58,240
Ashland, Iron, Lincoln, Onida, Rusk,
Sawyer, Taylor, and Vias. So we have

279
00:21:54,320 --> 00:22:04,320
most of them have anywhere between 10
years of service to one year. Bus has

280
00:22:01,360 --> 00:22:11,120
turnover in the last three years.
Um, and

281
00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:18,799
the wages range anywhere from
like Ashlin currently has 27 and 26.

282
00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:25,840
Iron is at 31 and a half. Lincoln is
they start at 2566.

283
00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:32,799
Um, Onida does have two positions which
is mechanic and fabricator.

284
00:22:29,679 --> 00:22:36,480
Um, and then
theirs is

285
00:22:34,799 --> 00:22:44,320
the mechanic makes more than the
fabricator does. And then Rusk starts at

286
00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:47,520
24. They actually have open positions in
shops and they have been trying to get

287
00:22:45,919 --> 00:22:56,559
somebody to fill that for quite some
time. Sawyer County is at $28. Taylor

288
00:22:53,280 --> 00:23:00,799
County starts at 26 and they go all the
way up to 34.

289
00:22:58,559 --> 00:23:06,559
And then Vias County has three different
positions. They have uh an assistant

290
00:23:04,159 --> 00:23:11,360
shop supervisor which is below the shop
supervisor

291
00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:15,600
uh mechanist and a mechanic.
The mechanist does have a diesel

292
00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:22,080
mechanic degree.
And they do prefer that a mechanic has

293
00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:27,360
at least two years of experience and
knowledge and willingness and experience

294
00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:32,720
for large trucks.
and their mechanic starts at 25 and goes

295
00:23:29,919 --> 00:23:36,000
up to 32 and then their mechanic gets $2
extra.

296
00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:40,480
So
>> which county was that?

297
00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:45,360
» Vias county.
>> What is our current range?

298
00:23:44,159 --> 00:23:50,559
» Starting then top
>> 20 2435 to 2841.

299
00:23:49,919 --> 00:23:53,120
» Okay. Thanks.
>> All right. And the counties that we

300
00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:56,080
mentioned like the ones that are a
little higher are higher on every job

301
00:23:54,720 --> 00:24:01,520
across the board and the ones that are a
little lower are right. So we're

302
00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:06,240
mechanic pay our pay is right in range I
think. What

303
00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:13,960
» they're mechanic they do Onida does say
that mechanics get $3 more than their um

304
00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:13,960
operators.

305
00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:20,320
So they're in the they're in the same
range as their operators but they get

306
00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:23,279
$3. So they're in the same c kind kind
of like ours. They're in the same

307
00:24:21,360 --> 00:24:28,080
categories, but they get $3 more. I
think that's kind of where we're having

308
00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:33,440
that issue, right?
>> Do [laughter]

309
00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:35,039
do our do the mechanics get the November
to April bump.

310
00:24:34,559 --> 00:24:39,520
» Yep.
>> Yeah. [clears throat]

311
00:24:37,039 --> 00:24:42,960
» Which is what dollar and a half or two?
>> Dollar and a half.

312
00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:47,120
» Then anything outside of their 10 hours
or shift or whatever it is. So

313
00:24:45,279 --> 00:24:51,200
» again, I don't think it's wages compared
to other counties that that based on

314
00:24:49,679 --> 00:24:54,320
» No, it's not county to county. It's the
outside world,

315
00:24:52,640 --> 00:25:00,799
» right? But also the outside world
doesn't offer, you know, we talked to

316
00:24:57,120 --> 00:25:05,600
previous employers of those type of jobs
in the area. They don't have 401ks. They

317
00:25:03,360 --> 00:25:09,520
Well, they have a 401k usually, but not
like we do where it's matched WRS. They

318
00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:15,039
don't have health insurance. If it is,
it's really expensive. So, it's the

319
00:25:11,919 --> 00:25:20,799
benefits offset that $2 or $3 that
you're seeing at these other outside

320
00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:27,679
agencies. Um, a lot of the discussion
we've had and and looked at is

321
00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:31,440
if we were to go to like a tiered system
where it's like we have a mechanic tech

322
00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:35,679
where it's there's a job description
that says these are the basic skill sets

323
00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:41,760
you need to have. Cool. Some days you're
going to work with on bigger things than

324
00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:47,520
what the general job description is. And
then you re have a mechanics one that

325
00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:52,320
has to have a degree that has to have a
specific or not degree but certificate.

326
00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:57,279
And with that you get additional pay.
You're expected to work on bigger

327
00:25:54,000 --> 00:26:01,919
things. The biggest problem is right
now, you know, you send off a job

328
00:26:00,559 --> 00:26:06,400
somewhere else. It costs you a little
bit more. Are you going to recover that

329
00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:10,240
if you have somebody that allegedly
could do it right? Do you are you going

330
00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:16,000
to cover that cost by saying, "Okay,
we're going to keep that fix inhouse.

331
00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:20,400
You saved a couple bucks there." Our
problem historically is even if you

332
00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:26,080
said, "I wanted a diesel mechanic or a
specialized thing." is we struggle

333
00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:30,400
recruiting in northern Wisconsin and we
end up going cool. You're really eager

334
00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:36,240
to learn and you're good at fixing the
tractor or the you're you were owned a

335
00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:41,360
semitr or whatever it might be and we
say come work for us and they do a great

336
00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:46,720
job but then you're not following what
you put in place to try to recruit those

337
00:26:44,559 --> 00:26:51,840
hire you know those spec specific
things. So, say we did a tiered system

338
00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:55,279
here. It'd be dangerous to say, "Okay,
well, you've been here five years, you

339
00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:59,360
get that, but that's not actually what
we're recruiting or trying to entice to

340
00:26:57,919 --> 00:27:04,799
come here." So, you still have the open
position at the the tech version.

341
00:27:02,799 --> 00:27:08,000
» I do think it's a branding thing, too.
Like, right, we're recruiting for

342
00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:13,200
mechanics. So, only mechanics are seeing
that, seeing, well, I can go work X, Y,

343
00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:18,320
or Z and get five bucks more an hour. It
may be, do we actually are we actually

344
00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:22,320
looking for a mechanic with a a
certification or are we looking to make

345
00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:27,440
sure we have somebody that can get the
little stuff done, keep the trucks

346
00:27:23,919 --> 00:27:33,919
moving until we can get them to the get
the motor rebuilt somewhere else. So

347
00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:38,960
again, we're we're working towards a
solution. I don't want to jump into a

348
00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:43,840
solution that's just going to, you know,
snowball us

349
00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:49,120
» somewhere else. To me, if a mechanic
should cover everything from replacing a

350
00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:54,159
light bulb to being able to overhaul an
engine or a transmission,

351
00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:58,080
and I
>> I would hope we could find somebody like

352
00:27:56,080 --> 00:28:04,240
that.
>> And if if we go to a a tiered system or

353
00:28:02,399 --> 00:28:07,679
a technician,
is he going to say, "Well, that's not

354
00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:10,320
that's not my job. I'm not going to
change a truck tire. I'm not going to

355
00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:13,919
» Yeah, that's a management
>> change out a truck spring.

356
00:28:11,679 --> 00:28:17,760
» That's a management issue. You know, if
someone came to Roger, right, or not

357
00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:21,360
Roger, but if Roger went to Vance right
now and said, "You're changing that tire

358
00:28:19,360 --> 00:28:24,399
tire." Vance should be out there helping
change that. I mean, that's just other

359
00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:28,320
duties as assigned.
>> So, if you get somebody with that

360
00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:32,640
attitude, that's not who you want
working for you. Um, so that that's a

361
00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:34,960
different issue.
>> So, just

362
00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:40,240
» Oh, you had a question. Yeah, just a
thought here and maybe it's way off the

363
00:28:37,120 --> 00:28:44,480
mark, but a lot of what I'm hearing is
the new employees coming in don't want

364
00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:47,919
they don't look at the benefits, they
look at the dollar, the the wage they're

365
00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:55,039
getting. [sighs and gasps]
Is it too much of an issue to have

366
00:28:53,120 --> 00:29:00,000
you come in at this wage that's on our
scale, you get the benefits that we

367
00:28:57,039 --> 00:29:04,720
have, which are all laid out, or you
come in and you get this hourly wage.

368
00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:12,640
These are your benefits you get, but
your perks, your um um boot allowance,

369
00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:17,279
whatever it might be that's an extra
perk that they're not looking at is

370
00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:21,919
actually incorporated into their hourly
wage for the year. So that's the wage

371
00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:25,440
that they get, but they don't get all
the side of stuff on the side. Give the

372
00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:29,520
employee coming in or even the employees
that are here the option, I want the

373
00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:33,520
hourly wage and no benefit, no perks.
>> Yeah. Now, I know that's I know I know

374
00:29:31,679 --> 00:29:37,279
said no. I know I I know where you're
going with this. I I know I know I know

375
00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:40,399
where you're going with this, but just
hear me out a second.

376
00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:42,000
» I understand it's not going to be easy.
>> Yeah.

377
00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:45,600
» Can it be done? I'm just throwing
something out there to think about.

378
00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:48,880
» We can with WRS we can legally not do
that. Say, "Hey, you work for us and not

379
00:29:47,279 --> 00:29:53,200
get it. After 1,200 hours, you
automatically qualify for now. There's a

380
00:29:52,399 --> 00:29:56,240
different way to look at
>> WRS has nothing to do with the perks

381
00:29:55,520 --> 00:30:00,320
benefit."
>> But that's a huge benefit. the per but

382
00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:03,600
then everybody would say I don't want to
turn in my receipts it's a pain in the

383
00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:07,679
butt for an employee to return and just
give me the thousand bucks or 500 bucks

384
00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:09,840
» so it's on their wage and we get the
wage

385
00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:13,360
» but the reason we did a program like
that is it's a reminder that you got

386
00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:17,600
something every quarter rather than oh
my wage 8 cents what I think we could

387
00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:21,919
look at
>> and this is again I'm just because we're

388
00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:27,520
spitballing in the middle of a meeting
which is always dangerous but

389
00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:30,799
» do we instead of employees do we look at
contractors.

390
00:30:29,279 --> 00:30:34,559
You come in, you have to have all your
own tools. We'll pay you 35 bucks an

391
00:30:32,799 --> 00:30:38,559
hour, but you're a contractor, you got
to pay your own insuranceances, you got

392
00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:41,919
to pay all your own stuff. You come in,
we give you the facility,

393
00:30:40,159 --> 00:30:46,240
» sit down and be a, you know, you're a
contractor. I know there's a lot of

394
00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:52,720
businesses that look at, you know, what
are you a W9er employee instead of a W2?

395
00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:56,640
» It may be an option. Um,
>> are those people out there? Is that

396
00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:59,279
anybody? And again, like
>> somebody who's done this in the past

397
00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:04,880
just I got a message. It's like maybe
it's $40. Maybe it's $50 an hour that

398
00:31:01,679 --> 00:31:09,440
says, but then we don't have that 4550.
We don't have all the costs on it. But

399
00:31:07,279 --> 00:31:14,640
then I would guess two months into it
when that person goes, I'm paying 15% my

400
00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:19,840
um self-employment tax. I have to do
both sides of the social security. I

401
00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:22,640
have to do all my own expenses. I don't
have health insurance. They'll see real

402
00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:26,480
quick,
>> but somebody might want that. There may

403
00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:29,840
be a contractor out there that wants to
be just give me a spot and I'll fix all

404
00:31:29,039 --> 00:31:33,200
your stuff.
>> Yeah. And and I'm not saying go to that.

405
00:31:31,919 --> 00:31:36,640
I'm just throwing ideas out there
because it sounds like we're stuck.

406
00:31:34,799 --> 00:31:40,799
We're stuck between what Roger would
like to see and we're stuck between what

407
00:31:38,559 --> 00:31:44,960
admin's looking for and we're trying to
digest how do we move forward here to

408
00:31:42,799 --> 00:31:50,480
get something accomplished. So I'm like
I said I am not so for HR out there. I'm

409
00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:54,399
not saying you I'm just saying that
let's look at every possible option we

410
00:31:52,799 --> 00:31:58,799
can which is what we talked about last
week and what have we looked at out from

411
00:31:57,120 --> 00:32:00,480
last meeting. What did we look at
differently than what we've been working

412
00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,320
on?
>> Yeah.

413
00:32:00,799 --> 00:32:05,919
» I don't think we're stuck. I think we're
just being cautious because if you do

414
00:32:04,159 --> 00:32:11,559
this there's a domino effect, right?
Because then all of a sudden the social

415
00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:11,559
workers go, "Well, we're strugg

416
00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:18,480
we we need this and we it's it's the
domino effect that really, you know, the

417
00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:23,440
wages aren't wrong. I mean, you listed
off all the regional wages. It's it's a

418
00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:29,200
people problem. We don't now do we
create a schooling program. come work

419
00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:32,880
for us as a uh tech and we'll school you
and we'll

420
00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:35,360
get you the certifications and you stick
with

421
00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:37,840
» I mean we basically do that for the
other

422
00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:41,200
» the sheriff's department and the
>> social workers

423
00:32:38,799 --> 00:32:44,559
» worker CDLs but we've also been burned
on that also.

424
00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:47,679
» Yeah.
>> Getting burned in the past doesn't mean

425
00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:53,200
we don't continue to do something in the
future because you know one person is

426
00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:59,919
one person um when it comes to that.
>> Yeah. Um,

427
00:32:54,559 --> 00:33:05,039
» Nick, are wages still figured as uh 50%
of your your hourly rate

428
00:33:02,799 --> 00:33:09,440
» uh benefits? Yeah. So, it's always
tough. We use about a 40% but like I

429
00:33:07,440 --> 00:33:12,080
think you said there the act your rates
a little higher.

430
00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:16,640
» Our turn rate right now is 68.
>> Yes. 68%. So, you figure you have

431
00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:22,000
somebody making 50,000. A health
insurance plan's 34 for family. So, then

432
00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:25,440
you had to add 6% on top for WRS. You
got to, you know, your FICA, social

433
00:33:24,159 --> 00:33:29,200
security, that's where it all of a
sudden it accelerates real quick on the

434
00:33:28,159 --> 00:33:32,000
total percent.
>> Even that $2 an hour really multiplies

435
00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:33,679
quickly.
>> Yep.

436
00:33:32,559 --> 00:33:38,080
» Absolutely.
>> So, I think we need to keep working. I

437
00:33:36,159 --> 00:33:42,080
think
maybe it is a schooling thing. Maybe it

438
00:33:39,919 --> 00:33:47,600
is a
expectations thing. Um I I just I get

439
00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:49,679
nervous with just adding steps because
then we

440
00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:53,360
» just go, "Oh, you've been here the
longest. Put move up." And then

441
00:33:51,679 --> 00:33:58,320
» and the number of people in the shop
aren't that many. So if you start

442
00:33:55,600 --> 00:34:02,399
tiering them pretty quickly, everybody's
going to know who everybody is from a

443
00:34:00,159 --> 00:34:05,600
tier perspective as well.
>> The Yeah,

444
00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:10,480
» I like the education piece of it because
again, you know, trying to encourage

445
00:34:07,519 --> 00:34:14,159
folks in EMS, I know apprentice analysts
will pay for insurance or pay for the

446
00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:19,679
tuition if you go on to be an EMT as
long as you stay there for X number. you

447
00:34:16,879 --> 00:34:25,919
know, growing them from the inside and
and getting them rotated up.

448
00:34:23,599 --> 00:34:29,440
You can you can train people to be a
mechanic, but you can't train somebody

449
00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:33,119
to have the right attitude to come to
work. So, if you find the right person,

450
00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:37,839
you can train them to do just about
anything, you know,

451
00:34:36,159 --> 00:34:41,440
» and it would be interesting to look at
like so if you found an individual who's

452
00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:44,320
interested in getting their we would
call a certificate, right? We'll we'll

453
00:34:43,359 --> 00:34:47,280
assist you with getting your
certificate. You'll get paid while

454
00:34:45,599 --> 00:34:51,119
you're, you know, if you have a couple
classes, whatever. We social workers,

455
00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:54,720
it's always at night and weekends, but
they get test days. They have to go get

456
00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:58,560
take a test. But say you look at a
certificate program, maybe it takes them

457
00:34:56,800 --> 00:35:03,839
a year or two to get through that while
they're working here. Well, if we can

458
00:35:00,240 --> 00:35:06,960
get somebody that year two to four, a
lot of times they stick around because

459
00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:11,520
then they start to see the WRS, they
start to see the health insurance, they

460
00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:15,520
start like you got to get them in the
loop. So, it may be a

461
00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:20,960
» and that's an easy fix, right? We go to
the admin, you add it to the handbook,

462
00:35:17,520 --> 00:35:23,839
and you um
work through that program, and then you

463
00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:28,320
advertise saying, "Look, we're looking
for eager individuals who have the

464
00:35:25,839 --> 00:35:33,040
ability to fix things, and we'll help
you with your certificate."

465
00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:36,800
» The thing is with an outside contractor,
you know, you aren't going to find

466
00:35:34,720 --> 00:35:45,359
anybody to come and work for you for 50
or $60 an hour. It's going to be a

467
00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:49,359
minimum of 100 up to 150 or or more.
>> Yeah. I know when you when we call Fabic

468
00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:52,560
to come and work on something, it's
usually $1,000 just a drive to us and

469
00:35:51,839 --> 00:35:56,079
back.
>> And that that's not even the hourly wage

470
00:35:54,640 --> 00:36:00,400
with the mechanic's getting paid.
>> That's a business

471
00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:05,920
contractor and there's probably not
enough work for that individual 40 hours

472
00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:09,440
or even 30 hours a week. You know,
>> one of the problems up here is there

473
00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:11,520
just not enough people go by the front
door.

474
00:36:10,640 --> 00:36:15,680
» No.
>> You know, it's

475
00:36:14,079 --> 00:36:20,400
» seems like Price County is more of
either you're here retired or it's a

476
00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:24,720
seasonal home,
>> you know.

477
00:36:21,119 --> 00:36:29,839
» Yeah. Well, uh, in the census, the last
two, uh, census have been going down and

478
00:36:27,839 --> 00:36:36,160
we're beginning to be a retirement
county up here. Would there is another

479
00:36:33,760 --> 00:36:42,480
unique way to look at is there a county
that we could combine with that to have

480
00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:46,720
a certified person that bounces back and
forth? You know, would it be easier to

481
00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:51,359
recruit somebody
to, you know, for the bigger stuff that

482
00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:57,040
works
multiple locations?

483
00:36:54,560 --> 00:37:00,240
I know everybody needs mechanics. So,
>> I think it'd be pretty hard to pull a

484
00:36:58,480 --> 00:37:04,240
mechanic out of somebody's shop cuz as
soon as that guy comes up here or here

485
00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:07,440
or wherever, they're going to be
calling. It's like, "This broke down.

486
00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:10,960
» We need him back."
>> And you [laughter] get you split it two

487
00:37:09,520 --> 00:37:13,760
days a week at each one. So, he gets a
half a project done each week and and

488
00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:17,599
whatnot. And that's
>> No. And again, throwing everything out

489
00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:21,359
there, but I do like the education piece
if that's, you know, there may be

490
00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:24,800
» and we don't want to do age, but an
individual that's out there that's, you

491
00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:27,680
know, I really want to do this and it's
expensive to get those kind of

492
00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:33,200
certificates. And
>> but what certificates do you list that

493
00:37:30,640 --> 00:37:36,960
help increase your rate? That's the hard
part.

494
00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:41,920
» I mean, what do we need to have them
working on our stuff? What is the

495
00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:46,560
expectation? I I I guess I'm assuming is
it Rinlander or Wasau the technical

496
00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:49,200
colleges that would be offering these
types of certifications or would we have

497
00:37:48,240 --> 00:37:55,280
that in Phillips here?
>> No Valley Tech is good.

498
00:37:52,480 --> 00:37:58,880
» I don't think Was
>> you know so so ultimately you'd want a

499
00:37:57,200 --> 00:38:04,560
person that's you know very good in
diesel mechanics. Um the ability to you

500
00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:09,440
know everything now is you hook up a
computer and be able to read. Tom does a

501
00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:14,800
very good job at that. Um, but you know,
Tom is really the only

502
00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:19,040
guy that's that's decent on a computer.
I mean, there's periodically once in a

503
00:38:16,640 --> 00:38:23,119
while we'll have a guy come and and
assist Tom and help him find things

504
00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:27,200
which he's also learning at the same
time.

505
00:38:25,359 --> 00:38:30,560
» So, from
let's let's let's unpack that for a

506
00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:36,000
second. So, you're saying that there's
staff members currently that are not

507
00:38:33,760 --> 00:38:40,400
techsavvy.
there.

508
00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:44,800
» Well, you know, as new trucks come,
there's there's new

509
00:38:42,640 --> 00:38:47,599
parts and components to these trucks.
They it changes every year as as the

510
00:38:47,040 --> 00:38:51,040
next
>> absolutely

511
00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:54,560
» tier tier comes of of the diesel. Um
things are changed with it.

512
00:38:52,480 --> 00:38:57,920
» So, and they're also on our end, me and
me and Mike have talked, you know, maybe

513
00:38:56,400 --> 00:39:01,760
at some point here too, we're going to
have to look at updating our computer

514
00:38:59,839 --> 00:39:06,320
and our programming that what we can
communicate with the trucks with. Mhm.

515
00:39:04,160 --> 00:39:10,400
» Um cuz right now we have we have issues
with the Kenworth communicating with the

516
00:39:07,920 --> 00:39:16,000
Kenworth and getting the information
from our laptop to the Kenworth to

517
00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:20,960
actually diagnose some of these issues.
So I mean when it comes down to I mean

518
00:39:18,800 --> 00:39:26,800
the ideal candidate would be he would be
very good at at that part and he would

519
00:39:23,119 --> 00:39:31,680
be good at um just the components of the
new tier system on the diesel and

520
00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:36,079
diagnosing those issues. Um,
transmissions are another one of our

521
00:39:33,280 --> 00:39:40,000
issues, you know, cuz this this deaf
stuff kind of does kill us a bit. You

522
00:39:37,839 --> 00:39:43,200
know, it's hard on the trucks with our
with our plow trucks that the rate of

523
00:39:41,920 --> 00:39:48,000
speed that they're going, you know,
they're going 25 30 m an hour, they seem

524
00:39:46,079 --> 00:39:53,040
like they want to regenerate a lot and
we're having issues with the I don't

525
00:39:50,720 --> 00:39:59,119
know, I I botch it, but like the dowsing
rods or something or dowsies for the

526
00:39:56,017 --> 00:40:03,440
[gasps] the deaf system. Um, so yeah,
then they'll go into limp mode and now

527
00:40:00,800 --> 00:40:06,480
you got a truck stuck
at the at the time it's always the

528
00:40:05,040 --> 00:40:09,599
farthest point of the county away it
seems like, you know, and then you got

529
00:40:08,079 --> 00:40:12,640
to try and get this truck back to the
shop.

530
00:40:09,920 --> 00:40:16,720
» They can drive 5 miles an hour. It takes
>> but at a certain point the truck just

531
00:40:14,240 --> 00:40:20,400
says enough is enough and then it quits.
the, you know, the crux of this

532
00:40:18,560 --> 00:40:23,720
situation here is we have equipment
that's predef.

533
00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:35,599
» Yeah.
>> And but I guess where I was going with

534
00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:41,680
your with your comment about, you know,
having one or two people that have that

535
00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:47,680
that exp I'll say expertise to do that.
Is there a way that we can expand that

536
00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:52,320
and have a bigger depth and breath of
individuals that can can do that? And

537
00:40:49,680 --> 00:40:58,640
what does it take to do that? Is that a
internal inservices? Is that internal

538
00:40:55,200 --> 00:41:03,760
competencies? What what does it take to
become proficient at reading diagnostic

539
00:41:01,440 --> 00:41:08,720
equipment? Is that from the vendor that
we get the equipment from training more

540
00:41:06,319 --> 00:41:12,880
staff on how to how to use it?
>> I guess Jeeoff, I've never really

541
00:41:10,160 --> 00:41:18,079
researched it. I'm sure that there's,
you know, classes at NTC that would help

542
00:41:15,839 --> 00:41:21,839
assist somebody with that. How long the
class takes? I don't know. I mean, is it

543
00:41:20,400 --> 00:41:26,319
is it 6 months?
>> Right. Yeah. Is it a is it a two two

544
00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:30,720
day, eight hour class? Is it a like you
say, is it a six-month thing? I I don't

545
00:41:28,079 --> 00:41:34,880
know. But again, just having that
additional knowledge within the folks

546
00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:41,280
that we currently have and then that to
build on with who we have to get to the

547
00:41:38,160 --> 00:41:44,240
other pieces of this puzzle. Again, just
like Nick said, talking out loud in the

548
00:41:43,119 --> 00:41:49,440
middle of a meeting and brainstorming
can be dangerous, but um just trying to

549
00:41:47,520 --> 00:41:54,640
think of it outside of the box type of
deal. So,

550
00:41:52,480 --> 00:41:58,720
» does the manufacturers offer classes
like a new truck? Do they

551
00:41:56,720 --> 00:42:03,920
» Not that I've seen though. you know,
they, you know, so usually like if you

552
00:42:01,520 --> 00:42:08,319
buy a, you know, a truck with a whatever
Detroit and the transmission, I think

553
00:42:05,680 --> 00:42:12,319
you can go to the dealer and get all the
information to put on your laptop so

554
00:42:10,240 --> 00:42:18,160
that way you can talk to that truck,
>> scan the QR code.

555
00:42:13,760 --> 00:42:22,480
» Yeah. You know, um, and
but as far as classings for diagnos, I

556
00:42:20,720 --> 00:42:25,960
that I don't know. I never really
researched that.

557
00:42:26,319 --> 00:42:34,800
And I don't know what the technical
colleges in the area offer, whether it's

558
00:42:31,440 --> 00:42:39,280
Chipo Valley or Wasau, Rhineland or
Marshfield. Um, again, I'm kind of out

559
00:42:37,119 --> 00:42:44,240
of that loop, unfortunately.
>> Sure. And I guess I I don't know. Is

560
00:42:41,280 --> 00:42:48,720
this committee good with the department
sending people off for things like these

561
00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:53,920
if this is in the future if this is what
we need even not just looking for an

562
00:42:52,000 --> 00:42:57,920
individual but just our current staff to
try and keep them up to date with what

563
00:42:57,359 --> 00:43:02,000
we have
>> and some of the problems that happen

564
00:42:59,680 --> 00:43:05,920
with this equipment the dealerships are
throwing their hands up so we we don't

565
00:43:04,079 --> 00:43:10,160
know what to do with it we can't fix it.
>> Yeah. The other part of the training

566
00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:12,720
part is and it's always a struggle for
training for everybody and staff is the

567
00:43:11,920 --> 00:43:16,079
time. Y
>> I mean you got a limited amount of staff

568
00:43:14,480 --> 00:43:18,079
basically to do the work you got to do.
Where do you find the time to train

569
00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:21,440
them?
>> And I know you struggle with that just

570
00:43:19,599 --> 00:43:25,040
on your required trainings. Now we throw
in some other stuff that is another

571
00:43:23,520 --> 00:43:27,359
complication. So
>> like I said, it's not a not a simple

572
00:43:26,960 --> 00:43:30,560
issue.
>> The hard part is without training, you

573
00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:34,079
fall farther and farther behind and then
>> Exactly.

574
00:43:32,319 --> 00:43:37,760
» it you're gonna have to grow people.
That that's the only way to succeed. And

575
00:43:36,319 --> 00:43:42,079
it's going to save you money to send
somebody for two days to go learn

576
00:43:39,680 --> 00:43:46,720
something or like I said, if we can hire
a eager individual and train them up and

577
00:43:45,119 --> 00:43:50,160
get them for the next 20 years, you're
you're way ahead.

578
00:43:48,400 --> 00:43:53,839
» And and do they have a train to trainer
model where you get your super users

579
00:43:52,240 --> 00:43:57,119
here that are training your other staff
at whatever staff meetings or whatever

580
00:43:56,079 --> 00:44:02,640
you have that way. So,
>> and historically, we've had some really

581
00:43:59,599 --> 00:44:06,319
good mechanics that they're lone wolves,
right? They want to just

582
00:44:04,400 --> 00:44:09,839
» let me be good at what I'm good at and I
don't want to train. And that's

583
00:44:08,079 --> 00:44:13,520
» hard to go, hey, I don't want to lose
you because I'm gonna force you to train

584
00:44:11,280 --> 00:44:17,599
somebody. But also,
>> we need your help to make sure we're

585
00:44:15,760 --> 00:44:24,160
better here. And
>> there's Yeah, we can look at through

586
00:44:20,319 --> 00:44:29,599
admin to start paying for certificates
in that area. That

587
00:44:26,480 --> 00:44:34,160
it's a good first start. Again, based on
Sarah's research, it's not we're not in

588
00:44:32,000 --> 00:44:40,560
a we're not in a unique situation. This
is a across the state, mechanics,

589
00:44:37,119 --> 00:44:46,560
highway in general, jobs in general for
a lot of our positions. So, we'll keep

590
00:44:43,520 --> 00:44:50,480
working at it.
>> Okay. I guess that's the best we can do

591
00:44:48,240 --> 00:44:54,800
on that for for today.
>> We still haven't had any applicants come

592
00:44:52,000 --> 00:44:57,800
in the last month and a half, month,
whatever.

593
00:44:59,200 --> 00:45:06,960
Okay. Well, that's an information item.
We'll keep working on it. Number 10,

594
00:45:04,880 --> 00:45:13,040
Whistler report.
>> Yep. So, you got uh I shared the

595
00:45:09,520 --> 00:45:17,280
Whistler report. Um I believe I don't
know, Meredith, if you can pull up like

596
00:45:14,720 --> 00:45:20,800
the Whistler report from last year or
not. I tried Nick sent an email right

597
00:45:19,599 --> 00:45:23,520
before [laughter]
I was leaving the office and I was like,

598
00:45:22,800 --> 00:45:27,119
"Well,
>> you got it." And and sorry I was the one

599
00:45:25,520 --> 00:45:31,200
that sent it late last night because I
thought about and and in reference to

600
00:45:29,119 --> 00:45:36,640
the email for everybody else is I think
on the last page there shows the w kind

601
00:45:34,079 --> 00:45:37,839
of the conditions of ranges from 1 to
10.

602
00:45:37,440 --> 00:45:42,640
» Yeah.
>> The question my that I asked Nick that

603
00:45:40,319 --> 00:45:48,000
he referred to Roger is can we look at
that graph but take and have five years

604
00:45:45,280 --> 00:45:51,680
worth of data to see is our whistle
report trending better or worse

605
00:45:50,240 --> 00:45:54,961
depending based off the monies that
we've been investing in. I'll tell you

606
00:45:53,040 --> 00:45:56,640
right now it's trending better.
[laughter]

607
00:45:55,920 --> 00:45:59,680
» So,
>> exactly. But numbers speak volume.

608
00:45:58,640 --> 00:46:03,839
» This number right here,
>> the 18 point.

609
00:46:01,119 --> 00:46:07,280
» Yeah. Up in the 50s,
>> right? But it's just a nice visual to

610
00:46:06,560 --> 00:46:11,920
show.
>> And I don't know in Whistler if I could

611
00:46:08,880 --> 00:46:16,480
get a five-year graph like this or not.
Um I I'll I'll do some digging, but I at

612
00:46:15,040 --> 00:46:22,240
first glance in Whistler, I couldn't
find it. I think uh I'm a packrat and I

613
00:46:20,240 --> 00:46:24,319
bet you I could find the one I presented
when we first started the funding thing.

614
00:46:24,000 --> 00:46:26,560
So
>> Oh, I think I've got one in my drawer

615
00:46:25,839 --> 00:46:31,760
here, but
>> you might take a lot of digging.

616
00:46:29,280 --> 00:46:33,920
» So, I spoke with Jules and she'll send
it

617
00:46:32,480 --> 00:46:36,319
» to the highway department at the end of
the day. I do have it in my files if you

618
00:46:36,000 --> 00:46:39,760
want.
>> Okay. I didn't know I didn't know if

619
00:46:37,760 --> 00:46:41,599
somebody could print it off and share.
>> Yeah, I could share it on the screen if

620
00:46:41,200 --> 00:46:43,920
you'd like.
>> Okay, that would be good.

621
00:46:42,880 --> 00:46:48,079
» Last year's
>> Yep. So this would be just from so we

622
00:46:46,720 --> 00:46:54,400
would see the difference from what we
did last year compared to so if you look

623
00:46:52,319 --> 00:47:01,200
at what we did this year. So, which we
did county highway D and H with D. Uh

624
00:46:58,800 --> 00:47:07,599
that portion of D was in a three to four
and a portion of H was in a was in a one

625
00:47:05,440 --> 00:47:12,480
a one to two.
And then also um which over on the far

626
00:47:11,119 --> 00:47:12,720
side Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

627
00:47:12,640 --> 00:47:19,520
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Y Y Y so so we assisted Lincoln County

628
00:47:16,000 --> 00:47:23,680
um with 7 miles. So that you you can see
that's in a 3 to four. So that that

629
00:47:21,760 --> 00:47:28,880
that'll be dropping off as well. So
that'll be going into a 10.

630
00:47:26,319 --> 00:47:37,200
Um so we are growing and and if you look
everywhere it's green, that's what we've

631
00:47:30,400 --> 00:47:42,720
done in the last um five years. Um
which I'll tell you right now is is huge

632
00:47:40,560 --> 00:47:47,599
compared to most adjacent counties as
far as mileage in in the in in a year.

633
00:47:45,920 --> 00:47:52,800
Um, but as you can see, there is a lot
of red left on this map

634
00:47:50,000 --> 00:47:56,079
» that we haven't touched yet.
>> And the the lion share of that is

635
00:47:54,560 --> 00:47:59,920
because we've been borrowing money to
fix the roads and that's about the only

636
00:47:58,480 --> 00:48:03,560
way it's going to get done anymore.
>> Absolutely. Yeah.

637
00:48:08,240 --> 00:48:13,880
» So, you can see where your investment is
going. Mhm.

638
00:48:14,319 --> 00:48:18,800
» Also, the number's going to change
because D&H aren't on

639
00:48:18,240 --> 00:48:22,559
» on
>> on this. Correct.

640
00:48:20,160 --> 00:48:26,800
» So, you're going to take 17 miles out of
the 1 to four range and put it in the 9

641
00:48:25,839 --> 00:48:34,079
to 10 range.
>> So, 16 16 miles of DNH and then three

642
00:48:31,119 --> 00:48:38,640
and a half of of Y is ours.
>> Yeah. So, 20 miles basically is coming

643
00:48:36,480 --> 00:48:40,559
off of the one to four and going to the
10. Y

644
00:48:39,599 --> 00:48:43,760
» should be a 10.
>> So yeah, I mean we we did 20 miles of

645
00:48:42,559 --> 00:48:47,440
new asphalt this year.
>> Yeah.

646
00:48:45,359 --> 00:48:51,839
» Yeah. Uh kudos to our guys for having
D&H shouldered. I drove by Y on Monday

647
00:48:49,920 --> 00:48:54,000
and it's still not done and I feel like
that was done getting paved a while ago

648
00:48:53,359 --> 00:49:01,520
already.
>> So I um Jason and Jason Leurs in Lincoln

649
00:48:58,559 --> 00:49:07,520
County is in charge of the shouldering
aspect. They're they're having issues

650
00:49:04,000 --> 00:49:12,240
with the DNR um getting permitting on a
pit that they were in previously. So,

651
00:49:10,079 --> 00:49:17,440
and then now getting his contractor in
to do the crushing. So, um yeah. So,

652
00:49:15,839 --> 00:49:20,689
» all complaints I've been pushing it over
to Jason. [laughter]

653
00:49:23,040 --> 00:49:27,079
» Can you go down to the percentage?

654
00:49:28,880 --> 00:49:33,119
» Oh, got to rotate that one too. Yeah.

655
00:49:35,760 --> 00:49:39,000
There we go.

656
00:49:43,680 --> 00:49:48,880
» So then,
>> so what you're saying, Roger, then on

657
00:49:46,960 --> 00:49:53,599
this on this particular graph, the
section one and twos and threes and

658
00:49:50,480 --> 00:49:57,440
fours have not been taken out of the
stuff that you've done this year.

659
00:49:54,960 --> 00:50:02,400
» Correct. Yep. So as we update Whistler
now after the projects are done. So

660
00:49:59,760 --> 00:50:05,960
you'll we'll see that change after the
roadway is complete

661
00:50:15,599 --> 00:50:25,040
» I'm going to share quick too. So
yesterday or Monday the um

662
00:50:21,920 --> 00:50:30,720
the it's called the green book by Ford
Analytics came out. So when we discuss

663
00:50:27,520 --> 00:50:34,400
spending so you can pick demographics
economic development financing so total

664
00:50:33,040 --> 00:50:39,920
spending but if you go to highway
spending

665
00:50:35,920 --> 00:50:47,119
um it it goes by county um and it's so
it's anything in the light blue is up to

666
00:50:42,319 --> 00:50:53,760
$114 per person. 114 to 161 is the
medium blue. If you go to green, it's

667
00:50:49,200 --> 00:50:59,040
$161 to $215 and then more than $215 per
person that you spend on your highways.

668
00:50:56,079 --> 00:51:03,599
So, if you hover over our region, it
tells you how much. So, Price County

669
00:51:00,960 --> 00:51:10,079
does spend a lot per person. So, we
spend $477 per person uh on our highway

670
00:51:07,440 --> 00:51:14,880
system each year. Uh Sawyer County is
also in that dark color. They spend 218.

671
00:51:12,720 --> 00:51:20,240
So, we double most counties when it
comes to the high. Rusk is at 376.

672
00:51:18,079 --> 00:51:24,640
They're unique. Uh, if you follow Rusk
County, they did like a $10 million bond

673
00:51:22,559 --> 00:51:28,079
like four years ago and spent it all the
first year and then now they're just

674
00:51:25,760 --> 00:51:32,319
paying for it. So, they're not doing
multiple projects every year where we're

675
00:51:30,160 --> 00:51:35,920
in and out, in and out. And so, we're in
a sense a different way ahead because

676
00:51:34,400 --> 00:51:41,200
they tried to do something, but then
they just were like one big kick at it

677
00:51:37,599 --> 00:51:48,800
and then it was like, but now what? Um,
>> uh, Taylor County is 199, Iron's 229,

678
00:51:46,000 --> 00:51:54,000
Ashland's 162. Again, we hear about
Ashland and they don't do a lot of

679
00:51:51,040 --> 00:51:57,520
projects. Um,
>> does that include state work? Do you

680
00:51:55,520 --> 00:52:00,480
know the money that the dollars?
>> I believe this is what you put on your

681
00:51:59,440 --> 00:52:05,119
levy for
>> Okay.

682
00:52:01,119 --> 00:52:09,839
» Um, county spending. So, again, we're I
think we were the highest in the Oh, 415

683
00:52:07,680 --> 00:52:16,400
here. So, Adams, we're still higher, but
Adams County, Marquette's 351,

684
00:52:13,359 --> 00:52:21,920
Green Lakes 269. The The hardest Oh,
Iowa County, $747 per person.

685
00:52:20,720 --> 00:52:23,440
» Yeah. Right.
>> We highlight [clears throat] them.

686
00:52:23,381 --> 00:52:27,920
[laughter]
>> Yeah. The hardest part is like if you

687
00:52:26,319 --> 00:52:31,839
actually look at like a Brown County, it
says $90 per person, but they're

688
00:52:29,920 --> 00:52:35,839
spending a hundred times what we spend
on road work and they have

689
00:52:33,920 --> 00:52:39,680
» per capita and they have less roads,
right? So that's the problem is per

690
00:52:38,240 --> 00:52:44,160
miles is really what you should
>> Yeah. How many miles of county road are

691
00:52:41,359 --> 00:52:47,760
there in Brown County?
>> I couldn't I mean there is a I can look

692
00:52:46,160 --> 00:52:49,760
it up. Yeah.
>> Um

693
00:52:48,079 --> 00:52:55,440
» are you able to share this link?
>> Yeah, it's a forward analytics thing. It

694
00:52:52,079 --> 00:53:01,280
went out with WCA last on Monday, but it
does you know spending per person total

695
00:52:59,200 --> 00:53:04,400
spending. You know we are not the
highest in our region even though

696
00:53:02,640 --> 00:53:09,359
everybody says we have high taxes. We're
at 100 or $1,887

697
00:53:06,880 --> 00:53:14,240
per person where Iron County is at
$3,730

698
00:53:10,880 --> 00:53:20,960
per person. Ashlin's at $1,900.
Bayfield 2,400. Sawyer 1,900. Rust

699
00:53:18,480 --> 00:53:25,200
2,300. So, it feels like we spend a lot,
but regionally

700
00:53:22,720 --> 00:53:29,280
we're we're not as
>> 117 miles of county trunk road

701
00:53:28,400 --> 00:53:33,760
» in Price County.
>> In Brown County.

702
00:53:30,319 --> 00:53:37,559
» Oh, in Brown. And we're 451 lane miles.
So, what's that?

703
00:53:34,559 --> 00:53:37,559
» Two7.

704
00:53:41,119 --> 00:53:46,800
» Do we don't get to counter summer res?
[laughter]

705
00:53:45,119 --> 00:53:50,240
» No.
>> So, anyways, it's a it's an interesting

706
00:53:48,720 --> 00:53:54,960
way to look at it. And I get it. It's
tough. We we have high numbers, but

707
00:53:53,520 --> 00:53:59,119
» um yeah,
>> Nick, do you know is that Doug had a

708
00:53:56,880 --> 00:54:03,599
good point there. Is that per capita of
uh residents in the county or taxpayers

709
00:54:02,240 --> 00:54:06,319
period in the county?
>> Uh residents

710
00:54:04,559 --> 00:54:09,359
» residents. So we're not that's my
understand

711
00:54:06,800 --> 00:54:11,599
» 50% of our our tax base.
>> Yeah. [laughter]

712
00:54:10,160 --> 00:54:16,640
» You know
>> 14,000 people.

713
00:54:13,119 --> 00:54:20,720
» Yeah. But Dor County is huge in vacation
stuff.

714
00:54:19,200 --> 00:54:25,920
» Yeah. So I mean it's an interesting
because like county property tax rate so

715
00:54:23,359 --> 00:54:29,839
a percentage. I mean across the state
there's a lot of dark colors and there's

716
00:54:27,920 --> 00:54:34,160
a lot of light colors but again it comes
down to value of property and and all

717
00:54:32,480 --> 00:54:38,319
those things and it changes real quick
if you have a good equalized value year.

718
00:54:36,160 --> 00:54:41,920
But just something to play with in the
future. It's your green book

719
00:54:39,760 --> 00:54:45,880
information.
>> But we do spend on highways.

720
00:54:48,880 --> 00:54:53,599
» Well, at least it's moving in the right
direction.

721
00:54:51,440 --> 00:54:58,079
» Yeah.
Slowly but surely slow slowly but surely

722
00:54:56,160 --> 00:55:03,359
going on the tracks. Right, Larry?
>> Sir, any other questions on the Whistler

723
00:55:00,480 --> 00:55:06,599
report?
>> Any comments

724
00:55:07,200 --> 00:55:16,960
information item construction report for
county highways D and H? Yeah. So,

725
00:55:13,119 --> 00:55:21,359
County Highway D um and H the
shouldering is done. So, what basically

726
00:55:18,720 --> 00:55:25,440
what we have left after today, they're
going to a little bit of shouldering

727
00:55:22,559 --> 00:55:29,920
left today. Um, they're going to be uh
doing driveways and then the line

728
00:55:26,960 --> 00:55:35,280
painting is going to be um coming
potentially in the next two weeks. So,

729
00:55:33,040 --> 00:55:41,440
th those projects will be finished up.
Um all the guardrails been done on the

730
00:55:38,160 --> 00:55:49,240
two bridges on County Highway D.
Um and the additional signs were added

731
00:55:43,839 --> 00:55:49,240
that was a part of the HISA project. Um,

732
00:55:49,440 --> 00:55:55,359
and then after after this it's just
going to be maintenance items for the

733
00:55:53,359 --> 00:56:01,119
rest of the rest of the season.
Transition in winter.

734
00:55:57,040 --> 00:56:06,400
» Can I ask you online painting county A
from North A? Is that happening this

735
00:56:04,079 --> 00:56:10,319
year or not?
>> Um, I guess I'd have to talk to Vance if

736
00:56:08,319 --> 00:56:13,599
he if that's on the list for updating
center line.

737
00:56:11,520 --> 00:56:17,520
» I just know the white lines there is
none this morning, but They're faded

738
00:56:16,880 --> 00:56:26,000
bad.
>> Yeah, we we've done can all we did D or

739
00:56:22,240 --> 00:56:28,160
not D um B north or B B B B B B B B B B
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B

740
00:56:26,079 --> 00:56:33,359
B B B B B B B B B B B A South B parts of
E um through Lugerville F. I mean, line

741
00:56:31,440 --> 00:56:37,599
painting is expensive.
>> Is that something that you have

742
00:56:35,200 --> 00:56:45,040
rotation? You just so many
>> each year? Yeah, we try to do um 20 to

743
00:56:41,359 --> 00:56:49,119
30 miles of line painting a year, but um
and ultimately you don't want to paint

744
00:56:47,440 --> 00:56:54,319
what you're going to do coming up
shortly for new asphalt. But yeah, that

745
00:56:52,480 --> 00:56:57,640
piece of A isn't really on the radar
yet, but

746
00:57:05,839 --> 00:57:14,400
any other questions on D and H
comments? Turned out well.

747
00:57:13,040 --> 00:57:17,040
» The ride, I think, could have been a
little bit better, but

748
00:57:16,559 --> 00:57:21,464
yeah,
>> you got to get a newer vehicle.

749
00:57:19,444 --> 00:57:21,464
[laughter]

750
00:57:22,480 --> 00:57:28,240
Take your pickup. Not a triacle.
>> Yeah.

751
00:57:26,720 --> 00:57:34,480
» Okay.
I'll accept the report on DNH

752
00:57:31,760 --> 00:57:37,359
department reports.
Roger.

753
00:57:35,680 --> 00:57:42,799
» Um
I don't have a lot. I didn't besides

754
00:57:39,680 --> 00:57:46,319
that my day-to-day stuff. Um
they did transition a little bit out of

755
00:57:45,200 --> 00:57:53,200
so [snorts]
um WCHA did merge some committees

756
00:57:50,559 --> 00:57:57,359
together. So now it is I got to look
here and see

757
00:57:55,839 --> 00:58:00,720
utility
um

758
00:57:58,880 --> 00:58:06,240
and
TAC and Acme all con merged. So now it's

759
00:58:04,240 --> 00:58:13,680
tech advisory and engineering standards
committee. So um which

760
00:58:11,599 --> 00:58:19,440
Um, basically they're just kind of
putting more people in in uh in one

761
00:58:18,000 --> 00:58:24,000
committee and then just smaller
subcommittees off of that now. So

762
00:58:21,839 --> 00:58:30,319
there's still tech advisory subcommittee
and a utility subcommittee. Um, that's

763
00:58:27,359 --> 00:58:34,160
the only thing really new at WCHA.
Um

764
00:58:31,839 --> 00:58:41,599
other than that I mean I'll be October
I'll be couple conferences a bridge

765
00:58:36,480 --> 00:58:46,799
preservation conference and uh airport
and tribal

766
00:58:45,119 --> 00:58:52,799
tribal
meeting in

767
00:58:49,680 --> 00:58:56,160
October. So road tour will have to be
somewhere between the first week of

768
00:58:54,160 --> 00:58:59,839
October or the third week of October.
Larry, just so you know.

769
00:58:57,839 --> 00:59:02,319
» Third week sounds better. think of
October.

770
00:59:01,625 --> 00:59:07,839
[gasps]
>> The 7th won't work.

771
00:59:04,400 --> 00:59:13,680
» No, I'll be out. I'll be
um Bridge Preservation, I believe, is in

772
00:59:10,880 --> 00:59:17,760
Chicago.
>> So, you

773
00:59:15,599 --> 00:59:19,280
» Oh, 7th. I would be okay.
>> You get a personal

774
00:59:18,480 --> 00:59:23,680
» I'll be gone.
>> I know. She has to tell me. She also

775
00:59:22,000 --> 00:59:26,720
almost has to tell me daily what's going
on.

776
00:59:24,000 --> 00:59:29,720
» That's awesome. [laughter]
Anything

777
00:59:30,559 --> 00:59:34,680
else for the commissioner reports?

778
00:59:35,920 --> 00:59:44,319
» Um Mike's been cutting grass. The uh the
assistant is out on medical leave right

779
00:59:42,480 --> 00:59:49,440
now. So it's just Mike by himself, but
he's just mowing and taking care of

780
00:59:46,640 --> 00:59:55,520
planes as they come in and out. Um not
much been going on there. Um there's a

781
00:59:52,799 --> 01:00:00,960
potential depends on whether or not the
BOA gets their uh the funding in place

782
00:59:59,280 --> 01:00:06,480
whether or not they might break ground
on the tea hangers yet this this this

783
01:00:03,599 --> 01:00:13,400
fall. Um but
Carl was unsure yet on whether or not

784
01:00:08,799 --> 01:00:13,400
the BOA funding will come in on time.

785
01:00:13,520 --> 01:00:21,520
No maintenance items this year will be
done. No crack filling next year. I

786
01:00:19,200 --> 01:00:26,240
guess Brian is what I was been told by
the BOA.

787
01:00:24,240 --> 01:00:31,920
» Okay. Dams.
>> Dams. We need rain.

788
01:00:28,240 --> 01:00:35,599
» Um, so everything is everything's low
right now. So the way things are, we

789
01:00:33,920 --> 01:00:40,000
don't even have to put out PSA for a
draw down because everything's low.

790
01:00:39,200 --> 01:00:43,359
» Have you
>> Is it below our our draw down rate

791
01:00:42,000 --> 01:00:49,119
already?
>> Yeah.

792
01:00:45,359 --> 01:00:57,280
Yeah. How's the complaints been?
Um, okay. I guess I I uh Dave said there

793
01:00:54,480 --> 01:01:02,079
is there was a request coming in as far
as wanting

794
01:00:58,960 --> 01:01:07,119
um what the DNR is requiring for flows
because the DNR requires a amount of

795
01:01:04,400 --> 01:01:13,359
flow coming out of Soulberg and and long
on all these dams. And so I just told

796
01:01:10,160 --> 01:01:17,280
Dave to reach out to Ryan Jarvis and and
let him know that, you know, the the

797
01:01:15,119 --> 01:01:23,200
request has come in for, you know,
somebody wants wants this information.

798
01:01:19,839 --> 01:01:29,440
So Ryan may be changing up some things a
little bit now, but we'll see. It's like

799
01:01:26,799 --> 01:01:33,440
he wants to redact some of the previous
things that he had put out there. So,

800
01:01:31,200 --> 01:01:37,760
but we'll see.
>> Well, it's something we have to live

801
01:01:35,520 --> 01:01:42,240
with. Nothing we can do about it. No, I
mean we I mean beside any everybody want

802
01:01:40,480 --> 01:01:45,040
running their garden holes in Soulberg,
that's the only way you're going to

803
01:01:43,119 --> 01:01:46,799
bring the water up.
>> Don't start doing that citizens,

804
01:01:46,687 --> 01:01:49,359
[laughter]
>> please.

805
01:01:47,839 --> 01:01:54,602
» Yeah, but they're all running the garden
hose out of the Soulberg to water the

806
01:01:51,760 --> 01:01:54,602
garden. [laughter]

807
01:01:55,040 --> 01:02:00,880
» It's [clears throat] low everywhere.
>> Yeah. Yeah. You look at you look at

808
01:01:58,880 --> 01:02:09,000
creeks and rivers. Um there isn't really
nothing nothing flowing anywhere.

809
01:02:04,079 --> 01:02:09,000
We're down 14 or 15 inches even.

810
01:02:10,922 --> 01:02:16,760
[laughter]
>> Okay. Highway crew.

811
01:02:21,680 --> 01:02:28,480
The crack filled bridge approaches on
state and county boom mode D north of

812
01:02:26,559 --> 01:02:33,040
Brandtwood patch state and county
highways.

813
01:02:30,319 --> 01:02:38,880
ruck paved for 49,000 feet of County
Highway H. [clears throat] Uh did a

814
01:02:35,520 --> 01:02:44,880
30,000 feet of patch paving. So we
worked with uh American Asphalt. We had

815
01:02:41,200 --> 01:02:50,319
their paver uh three of their operators.
It [clears throat] was our attack truck,

816
01:02:45,920 --> 01:02:55,119
our rollers, our trucks. So we did um
that was yesterday. Turned out all

817
01:02:52,640 --> 01:02:59,680
right. I mean for what it for what the
road was, it's better. Yeah.

818
01:02:58,799 --> 01:03:01,680
Um,
>> where was that at? That was on

819
01:03:00,960 --> 01:03:04,640
» 8 S.
>> S. Okay.

820
01:03:02,400 --> 01:03:09,680
» Yeah, we did three spots in total. The
one spot was closer down towards

821
01:03:08,319 --> 01:03:12,000
» I don't know what that road is by
France.

822
01:03:10,880 --> 01:03:16,079
» Oh, sure.
>> Yeah, that it dropped off really bad.

823
01:03:14,720 --> 01:03:19,599
Most of the time in the spring, the
whole intersection was almost water. So,

824
01:03:17,839 --> 01:03:23,280
we kind of we brought put some recycling
in there, raised it up. So, we're going

825
01:03:21,839 --> 01:03:29,039
to do some ditching out there. So,
hopefully that isn't underwater come

826
01:03:25,359 --> 01:03:34,799
springtime again. But um
when we shouldered H and D, so

827
01:03:32,720 --> 01:03:40,000
that was pretty much last.
>> Any questions for Roger on that fleet

828
01:03:38,079 --> 01:03:44,480
and facilities?
>> Um not too much going on in in the shop

829
01:03:42,960 --> 01:03:49,520
neither.
Um just doing routine maintenance and

830
01:03:46,559 --> 01:03:54,799
repairs on on the trucks and all the
equipment. Um when they get some time

831
01:03:52,160 --> 01:03:58,240
for that, they they go on the V boxes
and just making sure they're ready to go

832
01:03:56,400 --> 01:04:01,720
for this winter. Going through some of
the plow equipment.

833
01:04:01,839 --> 01:04:10,400
That's about it.
>> Okay. Are there any questions or

834
01:04:07,440 --> 01:04:16,400
comments for Roger on any of the items?
If not, we'll move on to vouchers.

835
01:04:13,280 --> 01:04:19,680
What's your pleasure on the vouchers?
>> I'll make a motion to approve the

836
01:04:17,680 --> 01:04:22,880
vouchers as presented.
Motion by Spacic.

837
01:04:21,839 --> 01:04:28,160
» I'll second that.
>> Second by Baratka to approve as

838
01:04:24,880 --> 01:04:32,559
presented. Any further discussion? All
in favor signify by saying I. I.

839
01:04:30,880 --> 01:04:39,640
» Opposed.
>> Motion carried

840
01:04:35,359 --> 01:04:39,640
road tour in October

841
01:04:40,799 --> 01:04:47,520
7 a.m.
>> I cannot do the first week. So

842
01:04:45,200 --> 01:04:52,039
» I I can't either on the first week. The
third week I could, but not the first

843
01:04:49,039 --> 01:04:52,039
week.

844
01:04:53,920 --> 01:04:59,914
» Make the joke. Do it after the board
meeting so you can't ask for more

845
01:04:57,760 --> 01:05:01,934
additional funding for the roads.
[laughter]

846
01:05:02,559 --> 01:05:06,559
» Well, we don't want to do it in
November.

847
01:05:05,920 --> 01:05:11,760
Kidding.
>> November ain't going to work for me.

848
01:05:08,960 --> 01:05:11,760
» Oh, okay. [laughter]

849
01:05:12,160 --> 01:05:20,079
» Well, what dates would work for you,
Roger? after the 13th. You said

850
01:05:17,359 --> 01:05:24,359
» uh the n the October the week of the
19th to the 23rd.

851
01:05:24,720 --> 01:05:30,000
» The week of the 19th would work or would
not work

852
01:05:27,280 --> 01:05:35,280
» would work if the first week doesn't
work for uh everybody else. The third

853
01:05:33,599 --> 01:05:40,240
week is the one the 19th through the
23rd.

854
01:05:36,480 --> 01:05:45,920
» Would the 22nd work?
>> Yeah. Land land meeting

855
01:05:43,039 --> 01:05:45,920
» on the 22nd.

856
01:05:46,799 --> 01:05:50,039
the 21st.

857
01:05:54,960 --> 01:05:57,520
» What day of the week is that?
>> It's a Wednesday.

858
01:05:57,280 --> 01:06:02,720
» Wednesday.
>> It's a Wednesday, the 21st.

859
01:06:00,160 --> 01:06:05,359
» And just for some reference, how what
type frame are we looking at?

860
01:06:03,760 --> 01:06:10,240
» Oh, you're going to have the best ride
of your life. And it starts at 7 a.m.

861
01:06:07,920 --> 01:06:13,839
and it goes to about 3 and Larry buys
lunch. Not

862
01:06:10,640 --> 01:06:17,680
» for lunch. No. Yeah.
And sometimes we cut it out early.

863
01:06:15,599 --> 01:06:20,480
Depends on how everybody's feeling.
>> I'm just wanting to block my

864
01:06:19,920 --> 01:06:21,920
» my other
>> You're going to want to block your day

865
01:06:21,359 --> 01:06:25,039
for this.
>> I'm going to Yep.

866
01:06:23,440 --> 01:06:27,200
» Be well worth the price of admission.
It's awesome.

867
01:06:25,440 --> 01:06:30,559
» Oh, I'm sure. [laughter] Cheap at twice
the price. Got it. Okay.

868
01:06:29,200 --> 01:06:33,280
» Even for a newcomer.
>> Yeah.

869
01:06:31,760 --> 01:06:35,440
» Sometimes we get orange juice and apple
juice. It's like a little kid on a bus

870
01:06:34,880 --> 01:06:37,359
again.
>> Perfect.

871
01:06:36,000 --> 01:06:40,240
» Awesome.
>> Now, [clears throat]

872
01:06:38,400 --> 01:06:47,200
we really have a ride.
>> Yeah. We invite the the whole county

873
01:06:42,640 --> 01:06:50,611
board to ant to uh participate.
>> Some come by choice, some come

874
01:06:49,039 --> 01:06:53,680
reluctantly.
[laughter]

875
01:06:52,240 --> 01:06:55,440
» We've never had to use handcuffs to get
anybody there, though.

876
01:06:54,400 --> 01:07:01,920
» No.
>> And we meet here at highway highway

877
01:06:58,880 --> 01:07:05,440
shop. We start there with a tour.
>> Perfect.

878
01:07:03,440 --> 01:07:07,839
» 21st works then, Joe?
>> Yes.

879
01:07:06,319 --> 01:07:09,839
» 21st will work for me.
>> Doug.

880
01:07:08,160 --> 01:07:14,960
» Doug.
Maybe if we can get drivers. I make sure

881
01:07:13,119 --> 01:07:19,880
I can get a school bus driver.
>> Oh,

882
01:07:15,520 --> 01:07:19,880
» let the kids drive themselves that day.

883
01:07:22,000 --> 01:07:26,880
» So you you could attend if you can find
a spare.

884
01:07:24,480 --> 01:07:30,119
» Yeah. Yeah. No, that works as good as
any day.

885
01:07:30,640 --> 01:07:37,760
» Okay. Well, I guess it's as good as any
other day. Are you going to come, Brian?

886
01:07:36,880 --> 01:07:41,359
» Why not?
>> Okay.

887
01:07:39,280 --> 01:07:49,799
Well, we have the date set then for our
our road tour and we've exhausted our

888
01:07:45,280 --> 01:07:49,799
agenda. So, I'll adjourn the meeting.