[0:00] Everybody,
>> click.
[0:03] » Good morning. Joe Baratka
>> here.
[0:06] » Doug Ericson
>> here.
[0:07] » Larry Pichek
>> here.
[0:09] » Jordan Spacic.
>> Jeff Olrich
[0:11] » here.
>> All are present.
[0:13] » Thank you. Items for discussion and
possible action.
[0:19] Public comment.
>> Let the record reflect. No one is here
[0:24] for public comment. Anybody online? Star
six to unmute yourself for public
[0:29] comment.
[0:33] Anything, Nick?
>> Okay, we'll move on to communications.
[0:40] I have nothing. Any of the committee
members have anything? So, Mr. Chairman,
[0:45] um yesterday I attended the um WebEx for
the Highway 70 resurfacing project by
[0:51] the DOT. So that's a uh scheduled in
2029 19.1 miles starting from five field
[0:58] going to the 09 the county line 2 in of
mil and then they're going to resurface
[1:03] it. There are some bridge work and seven
culverts that are going to be replaced
[1:09] and they're just going to be doing one
lane flagging for that. Here's a summary
[1:13] of that particular meeting if you'd like
that.
[1:17] » Did you attend that Roger?
[1:21] No, Larry, I was busy. But this is just
um preliminary
[1:27] uh plans. They're just they're just
doing scoping of the project. So, um
[1:33] later on I'll be more involved in
there'll be a premeating prior even to
[1:39] design even yet. So, there's there's
there's more meetings to come. So,
[1:43] » okay. Thank you. Thanks, Jeff, for that.
>> Mr. Chairman, just a quick FYI, I can
[1:47] vouch for Roger. He was doing county
business,
[1:49] » was he? [laughter]
I saw him.
[1:53] » Can anybody else vouch for him?
[laughter]
[1:57] » Yeah, the the meeting there was minimal
people on the meeting.
[2:01] » Do you have anything else on that, Jeff?
>> No, I I mean Rob Somerfeld's office was
[2:06] on, Senator Jesse James office was on,
um Schwaman
[2:11] school board or administrator, and then
a town of Ffield board member was on and
[2:16] the rest were were um DOT folks. So
again,
[2:20] » okay, thank you.
>> You're welcome.
[2:21] » Item number two, minutes from our August
5th meeting. What's your pleasure on
[2:26] that, gentlemen?
[2:31] » I will make a motion to approve those
minutes.
[2:34] » Motion by
>> second.
[2:36] » Second by Spacic.
Any further discussion? All in favor
[2:41] signify by saying I.
>> I.
[2:44] » Opposed? Motion carried. Item three,
five-year capital improvement plan.
[2:51] Roger, your moment to sun.
We have it in our packet.
[2:56] » Yeah, we made some adjustments and
cleaned it up. So, I guess if anybody
[3:00] has any further
comments, questions or concerns.
[3:06] Um so like all of it is contingent on
funding and
[3:12] um [clears throat] sometimes even like
if there is DOT work closer to the area
[3:18] where um it would be better to move a
project around it's just they're there
[3:24] the needs are there.
So,
[3:34] » anybody have any questions or or
comments on
[3:39] the five-year improvement capital
improvement plan?
[3:43] Mr. Chair, if I may.
>> Yes, go ahead.
[3:47] » Um,
funding request $3.1 million. That's
[3:51] been standard for quite a while here.
It's not any higher or lower. It's not
[3:55] what But I'm just My point is it's
nothing new.
[3:58] » No, it's nothing new. Um you know, and
I'm not requesting any
[4:04] above that for inflation. It's we'll
just do what we do with what we got. So
[4:11] very very grateful for what we get.
[4:21] Okay. the equipment side of that plan.
[4:32] » Um, back on back on the highway plan, do
you think there's going to need to be
[4:36] any like rut wedging done on H? I know
there's a lot of complaints out there
[4:40] already to you know
>> Yeah.
[4:43] » at least the first three miles beyond
that it's not as bad. Yeah,
[4:46] » we did that last Monday.
>> Oh, you did?
[4:48] » Oh, yep.
>> Okay. Good work. There's no [laughter]
[4:51] complaint.
>> No, no, but I just we haven't had a
[4:54] meeting for a while and whatnot. So,
>> yeah.
[4:56] » And I
>> That looks good for you, Jordan. And
[4:58] it's not even election year.
>> Yeah. [laughter]
[5:04] » No, I just got to I got to become the
board chair and move to the right side
[5:07] of town to get the right road done.
[laughter]
[5:12] » Facilities update.
>> Just just a joke.
[5:15] » Fiveyear plan. [laughter]
We actually routed everything from town
[5:20] all the way out. [laughter]
Came back on
[5:24] » spots, but
>> Oh, good. That'll make that better.
[5:29] » Are there any other
>> uh question on the equipment? Do we
[5:33] maybe maybe this is just on there just
to be on there. Do we need a patch
[5:37] trailer every year? I guess
>> um
[5:40] » because there's one in 27, one in 28,
and one in 30, and I feel like didn't we
[5:45] just approve one? Yeah. So, one that
would be ultimately pulled off, I guess.
[5:49] But,
>> um, we have one other one, too, that
[5:52] needs to be replaced, but
>> Okay.
[5:55] » It depends on what year we get it.
>> Well, yeah, I understand that, but I
[5:59] just
>> ultimately most of those items over
[6:01] there don't get financed.
>> Sure.
[6:07] » Um, so I don't know if there's a plan.
So this is just the yellow equipment
[6:15] program.
>> Our trucks are separate to this
[6:18] » trucks are separate. So the the the plow
truck um that we know we can afford
[6:23] every year and a pickup.
Um other than that it's kind of
[6:29] » and that's through the equipment fund.
>> Correct.
[6:34] Yeah. So
>> so this is additional
[6:38] » this is additional equipment
>> outside of equipment fund.
[6:40] » Yep. that's needed outside the equipment
fund.
[6:44] » And this is the one that's truly
dependent on fin, you know, if if the
[6:48] financing is there. So, like Roger was
saying, there's an equipment fund that
[6:52] we know we're doing the one truck and
hopefully some smaller stuff. Um, that
[6:58] equals what 450 to 500 each year. And
then we have uh one truck we usually
[7:05] borrow for. So, that's outside of this
yellow in in a sense. And then now this
[7:11] is the new request is this yellow
equipment um which we talked about at
[7:16] executive. We've brought it up at the
board where that's where the board has
[7:20] to decide are we increasing the debt to
start purchasing more equipment or at
[7:26] what rate do you do it? Do you do you
know this is a great plan but it needs
[7:31] to be extended every other year or
something with borrowing.
[7:37] » Yeah. No big items were bought last
year.
[7:40] So
the year before that was a greater and
[7:44] boom tractor.
[7:49] » Came close to buying a wheel loader.
>> Yeah, close.
[7:55] » Any other questions?
[8:03] » Any questions on the facilities?
[8:08] I think we went over this last time, but
the bunkers are to be able to store like
[8:11] rock and stuff out. Yes. At the
>> shed. Like
[8:16] is that something that needs to be
>> We don't need like a roof or anything
[8:21] over anything like that. And that'll be
out in the middle on the pad.
[8:24] » Yeah. The old sand pad.
>> Okay.
[8:26] » Yeah. So, no no base or no bottom. It's
just concrete blocks. Just the blocking
[8:30] and whatnot.
>> Placing them. Yeah.
[8:46] There aren't any further questions.
[8:50] So, it looks like looks like we have
multiple sites where we're storing
[8:54] different things. I see 704 North Lake
Avenue, old 13. That's going to sol. I
[9:00] see, you know, building a bunker here,
you know, building a building here for
[9:05] tar storage, building a Is there a
way of just doing one larger building
[9:13] for everything versus having like
multiple
[9:16] little buildings to maintain?
>> Well, so the bunkers don't have any
[9:19] roofs on them or anything. So that's
just out on the sand pad, but to store
[9:23] the the tar is just a building cuz now
right now it sits outside and when after
[9:29] a period of a winter and some rain and
they're it's they're wrapped in
[9:34] cardboard and everything just kind of
>> it doesn't weather well outside.
[9:40] » Okay.
>> And correct me if I'm wrong, Roger, but
[9:44] just the way our facilities are set up.
So our main shop here on 13 has limited
[9:49] storage. So we have another facility the
mile and a half away got to have two
[9:53] loaders there if you have a loader out
and so if you need material at both
[9:57] spots just for efficiency wise it makes
sense just maybe the logistical side of
[10:01] it to kind of wrap your head around why
he's looking at it that way. Is that
[10:05] kind of what you're thinking too?
>> Yeah. Yeah.
[10:06] » Yeah.
>> Didn't we discuss putting the lean two
[10:10] off of the salt shed at one point?
>> I believe there was discussion on it.
[10:16] Um, you know, and and there again, I
mean, that's kind of one of the spots
[10:19] where the loader storage would be.
>> Sure.
[10:23] » Um, would be like either lean to
building or something off, you know, you
[10:28] get into if it's totally enclosed and
heated, then you get into all kinds of
[10:33] regulations that you got to do. So, this
would be more cold storage type of where
[10:38] » three walls.
>> Yeah. [laughter]
[10:40] Where we could plug it in, you know, and
Yeah. And I think when that was being
[10:45] discussed, wasn't it? We didn't have the
the sand shed yet. So the loader was
[10:49] either parked in the salt shed, which is
a bad idea to have a loader in salt shed
[10:53] where now you have the the sand shed
that I'm assuming you're able to
[10:56] [clears throat] use for somewhat of a
storage.
[10:58] » Yep. Yeah. So we uh this this summer we
ran power out there. So now we can plug
[11:03] in an end loader out by the sand shed.
And so
[11:08] small improvements at a time. It's going
well.
[11:17] Doug looks in deep thought. You have any
comments, Doug?
[11:20] » Not [laughter] really. Just which shop
roof are you talking here? Read
[11:25] » it' be like it'd be uh at at the at our
main shop here. So that that steel
[11:32] » the new new part or No, the old
>> No, that's a flat roof, isn't it?
[11:36] » On the new building. Yeah, the new the
phase one is is um yeah, that
[11:43] rubber rough with the stone on it. I I
had Josh Josh went up there and looked
[11:47] at it and he said that's that's fine
yet. But like um the rock shop and and
[11:54] going forward that So like there's I
don't know what the ceiling and the roof
[11:58] is made out of, but that stuff's falling
down and the insulation's falling down
[12:01] out of the ceiling.
[12:08] was built in 1939.
>> Oh, [laughter]
[12:13] » some new white tin would probably
brighten it up in there a little.
[12:18] [clears throat]
[12:20] » When that was finished, there was a big
beer party there and a picnic and a
[12:24] dance.
Oh,
[12:27] » free beer. You missed, Jordan.
>> Were you alive then, Larry? [laughter]
[12:29] In 39?
>> Yeah.
[12:31] » Oh, okay.
heard stories.
[12:35] » I paid I paid attention listening to
old-timers.
[12:41] » Any other questions on our five-year
capital improvement plan?
[12:47] If not, I'll entertain a motion to
accept it and pass it on to county board
[12:53] or does it have to go to executive?
>> It would go to the budget process. So,
[12:56] okay. Yeah, I would. You guys are
motioning to say this is what we want to
[13:00] forward to the budget and then it'll
we'll put it as best we can. The
[13:05] executive will look at it, then the
board will look at it.
[13:08] » I'll make that motion.
>> Motion by Baratka.
[13:12] » I'll second.
>> Seconded by Spacic. Any further
[13:15] discussion?
All in favor signify by saying I.
[13:20] » I opposed. Motion carried.
Rice County Highway Department
[13:25] construction projects to be finished
financed with short-term debt in 2027
[13:33] highway and transportation and
executive.
[13:37] Nick,
you have something or you want to take
[13:41] that? Roger.
>> I guess it's just the same as every
[13:45] year, right? For the past few years.
>> Yep. So this is just getting ahead of it
[13:49] so that if this is what's going to go in
the budget, we can get those what we
[13:54] like to do is get these resolutions
saying we are going to borrow done
[13:59] sooner than later so it's not to the
budget process and in November you're
[14:03] trying to get them done. Um this really
sets up the budget prior to the budget,
[14:09] right? Are you going to borrow the 3.1?
Are you going to borrow the same for
[14:14] equipment? Are you going to borrow those
things? So, it's it's reviewing that to
[14:18] get that process started so that when we
put the the budget forward,
[14:24] those numbers are already in it saying
you as a board have made that decision.
[14:28] It has to be a three-4 vote by the full
board to borrow money.
[14:39] » So, you're looking for a motion on that?
>> Yes. I'll make that motion too.
[14:45] » I'll second.
>> Motion by all, second by Ericson.
[14:52] » Any further discussion?
>> All in favor signify by saying I.
[14:57] » I.
>> Opposed?
[15:00] So carried.
>> Larry, could I ask you a question quick?
[15:03] So for that, I do have a resolution
ready, but I didn't put it on the agenda
[15:08] as a resolution. Do you want that signed
today or
[15:12] » if it's not on the agenda? We can't.
>> It's not on the agenda as of
[15:16] » That's fine. But it was in our mailbox,
>> right? It's just a Is this what the
[15:20] amount you want? You want to do the
normal amount, the $3.1 million
[15:25] um executive will review it. We have a
process. Yeah. So, you guys are
[15:29] comfortable with the 3.1 based on your
the list is really what it comes down
[15:34] to. So that's just a preliminary proof
of the draft of the resolution.
[15:39] [laughter]
[15:43] » Are you comfortable with that?
Obviously, we'd like more, but
[15:51] uh that is fine. I mean, we we did a
phenomenal amount of work this year. So,
[15:57] um
>> was good and dry.
[15:58] » It was good and dry. Yeah. But too
dusty. That was it.
[16:03] » Trust me, I know little Chicago was
really dusty last
[16:05] » three weeks. I couldn't I don't know how
people live on gravel roads. [laughter]
[16:11] » So, for now, we're going to treat that
as information item. Meredith.
[16:17] » Correct.
>> Do we need to meet before the No. Okay.
[16:21] Before the next meeting.
>> I believe it's a resolution for the
[16:25] future and that's just a number for
information and discussion.
[16:31] I'm guessing the question is does does
this committee have to approve the
[16:36] resolution before it gets to executive?
My feeling is the answer is no, but I
[16:41] don't know.
[16:45] » Oh, you're asking? [clears throat]
>> No, I I I'll have to look at history,
[16:48] but I it it doesn't need multiple
committees to approve it. It's you guys
[16:52] are recommending 3.1 executives building
the the the
[16:57] » budget. they'll bring forward a
resolution 3.1.
[17:01] [clears throat] We'll go from there. So,
I we'll we have time. We'll we'll we'll
[17:06] map it out and make sure we get
everybody, but I think that's just the
[17:10] that's where we'll go with it.
[17:18] Are you finished, Nick? Okay. Item five,
Price County Highway Department 28
[17:25] through 32, equipment improvement
program, highway and transportation.
[17:30] » What's your pleasure on that, gentlemen?
>> I'll make a motion to approve the
[17:33] resolution.
>> Motion by SPAC.
[17:40] » Second.
>> Second by any further discussion?
[17:45] All in favor signify by saying I. I. I.
>> Opposed. Motion carried.
[17:52] Item six, resolution for facilities
improvement program, highway and
[17:58] transportation.
What's your pleasure on that?
[18:03] » I'll make a motion to approve.
>> Second.
[18:06] » Motion by Spacic, second by Barata.
>> Ericson.
[18:10] » Ericson.
>> You got to make sure he's here today.
[18:15] » Might be awake. [laughter]
>> Any further discussion?
[18:20] All in favor signify by saying I. I.
>> I.
[18:24] » Motion carried.
[18:28] Item number seven has been crossed out.
Price County Highway Department policy
[18:33] billing for requested assistance. Roger.
>> So the state of Wisconsin is not taking
[18:41] on any more customers. Correct. So as
far as when it comes to
[18:47] » we've been put on the list. So when they
do because they have too many
[18:51] outstanding customers right now once
they reopen up then we'll be contacted
[18:57] to apply but they do have a trip that we
could apply for if we wanted to
[19:04] » tax refund
um plan.
[19:09] Excuse me. Would you like to use the
microphone
[19:13] on mine? I'm fine.
>> You don't have a choice. Use the
[19:16] microphone.
>> I can hear you well but [laughter]
[19:18] We don't charge for that. Sarah can sit
right there and use that.
[19:22] » You can use any of these. Yeah.
>> Sarah likes to remain in the back row
[19:27] silent.
[19:30] » I'm trying to make Roger remember
everything.
[19:34] » Good luck. [laughter]
>> So, currently the state doesn't take any
[19:40] more customers because of the fact that
they have too many outstanding ones that
[19:45] they're going after. So, we've been put
on a list. So when they do start taking
[19:48] people back in, they'll contact us and
then we can go through that process.
[19:53] Right now they do have a trip one that
we could do if we wanted to, which is
[19:58] tax refund inception plan. Um that one
though
[20:04] isn't, you know, that's kind of a base
by base kind of situation though. That's
[20:11] not actually an agreement with them long
term, per se.
[20:21] I got at this point we'll just do as we
previously we'll try and build on on
[20:28] instances like this whether or not we
can get the the landowner to to
[20:33] reimburse us through their insurance or
whatever happens at this point.
[20:38] » This is for assistance on uh
emergencies.
[20:42] » Yep. So if we get called out on for
whatever it is and um
[20:48] that we can try to recoup some of our
funds from I mean especially like when
[20:53] we have a guy go out twice on a weekend
you know we're paying overtime it gets
[20:59] expensive by the time we send equipment
and and men out.
[21:06] Okay.
[21:10] So for now that's anformational item.
>> Correct.
[21:14] » Item nine,
highway mechanic recruitment.
[21:19] » Roger.
>> So we have been reaching out to other
[21:22] counties. I believe Sarah has
most of that information.
[21:31] » You're going to make me talk on all of
this, aren't you? Um, so I reached out
[21:35] to the surrounding,
[21:39] let me just pull it up.
Um, counties around us.
[21:46] Ashland, Iron, Lincoln, Onida, Rusk,
Sawyer, Taylor, and Vias. So we have
[21:54] most of them have anywhere between 10
years of service to one year. Bus has
[22:01] turnover in the last three years.
Um, and
[22:07] the wages range anywhere from
like Ashlin currently has 27 and 26.
[22:15] Iron is at 31 and a half. Lincoln is
they start at 2566.
[22:22] Um, Onida does have two positions which
is mechanic and fabricator.
[22:29] Um, and then
theirs is
[22:34] the mechanic makes more than the
fabricator does. And then Rusk starts at
[22:41] 24. They actually have open positions in
shops and they have been trying to get
[22:45] somebody to fill that for quite some
time. Sawyer County is at $28. Taylor
[22:53] County starts at 26 and they go all the
way up to 34.
[22:58] And then Vias County has three different
positions. They have uh an assistant
[23:04] shop supervisor which is below the shop
supervisor
[23:08] uh mechanist and a mechanic.
The mechanist does have a diesel
[23:13] mechanic degree.
And they do prefer that a mechanic has
[23:20] at least two years of experience and
knowledge and willingness and experience
[23:24] for large trucks.
and their mechanic starts at 25 and goes
[23:29] up to 32 and then their mechanic gets $2
extra.
[23:34] So
>> which county was that?
[23:38] » Vias county.
>> What is our current range?
[23:44] » Starting then top
>> 20 2435 to 2841.
[23:49] » Okay. Thanks.
>> All right. And the counties that we
[23:51] mentioned like the ones that are a
little higher are higher on every job
[23:54] across the board and the ones that are a
little lower are right. So we're
[23:58] mechanic pay our pay is right in range I
think. What
[24:03] » they're mechanic they do Onida does say
that mechanics get $3 more than their um
[24:10] operators.
[24:14] So they're in the they're in the same
range as their operators but they get
[24:18] $3. So they're in the same c kind kind
of like ours. They're in the same
[24:21] categories, but they get $3 more. I
think that's kind of where we're having
[24:24] that issue, right?
>> Do [laughter]
[24:30] do our do the mechanics get the November
to April bump.
[24:34] » Yep.
>> Yeah. [clears throat]
[24:37] » Which is what dollar and a half or two?
>> Dollar and a half.
[24:40] » Then anything outside of their 10 hours
or shift or whatever it is. So
[24:45] » again, I don't think it's wages compared
to other counties that that based on
[24:49] » No, it's not county to county. It's the
outside world,
[24:52] » right? But also the outside world
doesn't offer, you know, we talked to
[24:57] previous employers of those type of jobs
in the area. They don't have 401ks. They
[25:03] Well, they have a 401k usually, but not
like we do where it's matched WRS. They
[25:07] don't have health insurance. If it is,
it's really expensive. So, it's the
[25:11] benefits offset that $2 or $3 that
you're seeing at these other outside
[25:17] agencies. Um, a lot of the discussion
we've had and and looked at is
[25:25] if we were to go to like a tiered system
where it's like we have a mechanic tech
[25:29] where it's there's a job description
that says these are the basic skill sets
[25:33] you need to have. Cool. Some days you're
going to work with on bigger things than
[25:37] what the general job description is. And
then you re have a mechanics one that
[25:45] has to have a degree that has to have a
specific or not degree but certificate.
[25:50] And with that you get additional pay.
You're expected to work on bigger
[25:54] things. The biggest problem is right
now, you know, you send off a job
[26:00] somewhere else. It costs you a little
bit more. Are you going to recover that
[26:04] if you have somebody that allegedly
could do it right? Do you are you going
[26:08] to cover that cost by saying, "Okay,
we're going to keep that fix inhouse.
[26:13] You saved a couple bucks there." Our
problem historically is even if you
[26:18] said, "I wanted a diesel mechanic or a
specialized thing." is we struggle
[26:23] recruiting in northern Wisconsin and we
end up going cool. You're really eager
[26:28] to learn and you're good at fixing the
tractor or the you're you were owned a
[26:33] semitr or whatever it might be and we
say come work for us and they do a great
[26:38] job but then you're not following what
you put in place to try to recruit those
[26:44] hire you know those spec specific
things. So, say we did a tiered system
[26:48] here. It'd be dangerous to say, "Okay,
well, you've been here five years, you
[26:53] get that, but that's not actually what
we're recruiting or trying to entice to
[26:57] come here." So, you still have the open
position at the the tech version.
[27:02] » I do think it's a branding thing, too.
Like, right, we're recruiting for
[27:06] mechanics. So, only mechanics are seeing
that, seeing, well, I can go work X, Y,
[27:10] or Z and get five bucks more an hour. It
may be, do we actually are we actually
[27:16] looking for a mechanic with a a
certification or are we looking to make
[27:20] sure we have somebody that can get the
little stuff done, keep the trucks
[27:23] moving until we can get them to the get
the motor rebuilt somewhere else. So
[27:31] again, we're we're working towards a
solution. I don't want to jump into a
[27:36] solution that's just going to, you know,
snowball us
[27:40] » somewhere else. To me, if a mechanic
should cover everything from replacing a
[27:46] light bulb to being able to overhaul an
engine or a transmission,
[27:52] and I
>> I would hope we could find somebody like
[27:56] that.
>> And if if we go to a a tiered system or
[28:02] a technician,
is he going to say, "Well, that's not
[28:06] that's not my job. I'm not going to
change a truck tire. I'm not going to
[28:09] » Yeah, that's a management
>> change out a truck spring.
[28:11] » That's a management issue. You know, if
someone came to Roger, right, or not
[28:16] Roger, but if Roger went to Vance right
now and said, "You're changing that tire
[28:19] tire." Vance should be out there helping
change that. I mean, that's just other
[28:22] duties as assigned.
>> So, if you get somebody with that
[28:26] attitude, that's not who you want
working for you. Um, so that that's a
[28:30] different issue.
>> So, just
[28:33] » Oh, you had a question. Yeah, just a
thought here and maybe it's way off the
[28:37] mark, but a lot of what I'm hearing is
the new employees coming in don't want
[28:42] they don't look at the benefits, they
look at the dollar, the the wage they're
[28:46] getting. [sighs and gasps]
Is it too much of an issue to have
[28:53] you come in at this wage that's on our
scale, you get the benefits that we
[28:57] have, which are all laid out, or you
come in and you get this hourly wage.
[29:02] These are your benefits you get, but
your perks, your um um boot allowance,
[29:10] whatever it might be that's an extra
perk that they're not looking at is
[29:15] actually incorporated into their hourly
wage for the year. So that's the wage
[29:20] that they get, but they don't get all
the side of stuff on the side. Give the
[29:23] employee coming in or even the employees
that are here the option, I want the
[29:27] hourly wage and no benefit, no perks.
>> Yeah. Now, I know that's I know I know
[29:31] said no. I know I I know where you're
going with this. I I know I know I know
[29:36] where you're going with this, but just
hear me out a second.
[29:38] » I understand it's not going to be easy.
>> Yeah.
[29:40] » Can it be done? I'm just throwing
something out there to think about.
[29:43] » We can with WRS we can legally not do
that. Say, "Hey, you work for us and not
[29:47] get it. After 1,200 hours, you
automatically qualify for now. There's a
[29:52] different way to look at
>> WRS has nothing to do with the perks
[29:55] benefit."
>> But that's a huge benefit. the per but
[29:58] then everybody would say I don't want to
turn in my receipts it's a pain in the
[30:01] butt for an employee to return and just
give me the thousand bucks or 500 bucks
[30:06] » so it's on their wage and we get the
wage
[30:08] » but the reason we did a program like
that is it's a reminder that you got
[30:11] something every quarter rather than oh
my wage 8 cents what I think we could
[30:16] look at
>> and this is again I'm just because we're
[30:20] spitballing in the middle of a meeting
which is always dangerous but
[30:24] » do we instead of employees do we look at
contractors.
[30:29] You come in, you have to have all your
own tools. We'll pay you 35 bucks an
[30:32] hour, but you're a contractor, you got
to pay your own insuranceances, you got
[30:36] to pay all your own stuff. You come in,
we give you the facility,
[30:40] » sit down and be a, you know, you're a
contractor. I know there's a lot of
[30:43] businesses that look at, you know, what
are you a W9er employee instead of a W2?
[30:50] » It may be an option. Um,
>> are those people out there? Is that
[30:54] anybody? And again, like
>> somebody who's done this in the past
[30:58] just I got a message. It's like maybe
it's $40. Maybe it's $50 an hour that
[31:01] says, but then we don't have that 4550.
We don't have all the costs on it. But
[31:07] then I would guess two months into it
when that person goes, I'm paying 15% my
[31:12] um self-employment tax. I have to do
both sides of the social security. I
[31:17] have to do all my own expenses. I don't
have health insurance. They'll see real
[31:21] quick,
>> but somebody might want that. There may
[31:24] be a contractor out there that wants to
be just give me a spot and I'll fix all
[31:29] your stuff.
>> Yeah. And and I'm not saying go to that.
[31:31] I'm just throwing ideas out there
because it sounds like we're stuck.
[31:34] We're stuck between what Roger would
like to see and we're stuck between what
[31:38] admin's looking for and we're trying to
digest how do we move forward here to
[31:42] get something accomplished. So I'm like
I said I am not so for HR out there. I'm
[31:48] not saying you I'm just saying that
let's look at every possible option we
[31:52] can which is what we talked about last
week and what have we looked at out from
[31:57] last meeting. What did we look at
differently than what we've been working
[32:00] on?
>> Yeah.
[32:00] » I don't think we're stuck. I think we're
just being cautious because if you do
[32:04] this there's a domino effect, right?
Because then all of a sudden the social
[32:07] workers go, "Well, we're strugg
[32:11] we we need this and we it's it's the
domino effect that really, you know, the
[32:16] wages aren't wrong. I mean, you listed
off all the regional wages. It's it's a
[32:21] people problem. We don't now do we
create a schooling program. come work
[32:25] for us as a uh tech and we'll school you
and we'll
[32:31] get you the certifications and you stick
with
[32:33] » I mean we basically do that for the
other
[32:35] » the sheriff's department and the
>> social workers
[32:38] » worker CDLs but we've also been burned
on that also.
[32:42] » Yeah.
>> Getting burned in the past doesn't mean
[32:46] we don't continue to do something in the
future because you know one person is
[32:50] one person um when it comes to that.
>> Yeah. Um,
[32:54] » Nick, are wages still figured as uh 50%
of your your hourly rate
[33:02] » uh benefits? Yeah. So, it's always
tough. We use about a 40% but like I
[33:07] think you said there the act your rates
a little higher.
[33:10] » Our turn rate right now is 68.
>> Yes. 68%. So, you figure you have
[33:14] somebody making 50,000. A health
insurance plan's 34 for family. So, then
[33:19] you had to add 6% on top for WRS. You
got to, you know, your FICA, social
[33:24] security, that's where it all of a
sudden it accelerates real quick on the
[33:28] total percent.
>> Even that $2 an hour really multiplies
[33:31] quickly.
>> Yep.
[33:32] » Absolutely.
>> So, I think we need to keep working. I
[33:36] think
maybe it is a schooling thing. Maybe it
[33:39] is a
expectations thing. Um I I just I get
[33:45] nervous with just adding steps because
then we
[33:48] » just go, "Oh, you've been here the
longest. Put move up." And then
[33:51] » and the number of people in the shop
aren't that many. So if you start
[33:55] tiering them pretty quickly, everybody's
going to know who everybody is from a
[34:00] tier perspective as well.
>> The Yeah,
[34:03] » I like the education piece of it because
again, you know, trying to encourage
[34:07] folks in EMS, I know apprentice analysts
will pay for insurance or pay for the
[34:12] tuition if you go on to be an EMT as
long as you stay there for X number. you
[34:16] know, growing them from the inside and
and getting them rotated up.
[34:23] You can you can train people to be a
mechanic, but you can't train somebody
[34:27] to have the right attitude to come to
work. So, if you find the right person,
[34:31] you can train them to do just about
anything, you know,
[34:36] » and it would be interesting to look at
like so if you found an individual who's
[34:40] interested in getting their we would
call a certificate, right? We'll we'll
[34:43] assist you with getting your
certificate. You'll get paid while
[34:45] you're, you know, if you have a couple
classes, whatever. We social workers,
[34:48] it's always at night and weekends, but
they get test days. They have to go get
[34:52] take a test. But say you look at a
certificate program, maybe it takes them
[34:56] a year or two to get through that while
they're working here. Well, if we can
[35:00] get somebody that year two to four, a
lot of times they stick around because
[35:05] then they start to see the WRS, they
start to see the health insurance, they
[35:08] start like you got to get them in the
loop. So, it may be a
[35:13] » and that's an easy fix, right? We go to
the admin, you add it to the handbook,
[35:17] and you um
work through that program, and then you
[35:22] advertise saying, "Look, we're looking
for eager individuals who have the
[35:25] ability to fix things, and we'll help
you with your certificate."
[35:30] » The thing is with an outside contractor,
you know, you aren't going to find
[35:34] anybody to come and work for you for 50
or $60 an hour. It's going to be a
[35:38] minimum of 100 up to 150 or or more.
>> Yeah. I know when you when we call Fabic
[35:48] to come and work on something, it's
usually $1,000 just a drive to us and
[35:51] back.
>> And that that's not even the hourly wage
[35:54] with the mechanic's getting paid.
>> That's a business
[35:58] contractor and there's probably not
enough work for that individual 40 hours
[36:03] or even 30 hours a week. You know,
>> one of the problems up here is there
[36:07] just not enough people go by the front
door.
[36:10] » No.
>> You know, it's
[36:14] » seems like Price County is more of
either you're here retired or it's a
[36:18] seasonal home,
>> you know.
[36:21] » Yeah. Well, uh, in the census, the last
two, uh, census have been going down and
[36:27] we're beginning to be a retirement
county up here. Would there is another
[36:33] unique way to look at is there a county
that we could combine with that to have
[36:38] a certified person that bounces back and
forth? You know, would it be easier to
[36:44] recruit somebody
to, you know, for the bigger stuff that
[36:49] works
multiple locations?
[36:54] I know everybody needs mechanics. So,
>> I think it'd be pretty hard to pull a
[36:58] mechanic out of somebody's shop cuz as
soon as that guy comes up here or here
[37:02] or wherever, they're going to be
calling. It's like, "This broke down.
[37:06] » We need him back."
>> And you [laughter] get you split it two
[37:09] days a week at each one. So, he gets a
half a project done each week and and
[37:12] whatnot. And that's
>> No. And again, throwing everything out
[37:15] there, but I do like the education piece
if that's, you know, there may be
[37:19] » and we don't want to do age, but an
individual that's out there that's, you
[37:23] know, I really want to do this and it's
expensive to get those kind of
[37:26] certificates. And
>> but what certificates do you list that
[37:30] help increase your rate? That's the hard
part.
[37:34] » I mean, what do we need to have them
working on our stuff? What is the
[37:38] expectation? I I I guess I'm assuming is
it Rinlander or Wasau the technical
[37:44] colleges that would be offering these
types of certifications or would we have
[37:48] that in Phillips here?
>> No Valley Tech is good.
[37:52] » I don't think Was
>> you know so so ultimately you'd want a
[37:57] person that's you know very good in
diesel mechanics. Um the ability to you
[38:02] know everything now is you hook up a
computer and be able to read. Tom does a
[38:06] very good job at that. Um, but you know,
Tom is really the only
[38:12] guy that's that's decent on a computer.
I mean, there's periodically once in a
[38:16] while we'll have a guy come and and
assist Tom and help him find things
[38:21] which he's also learning at the same
time.
[38:25] » So, from
let's let's let's unpack that for a
[38:29] second. So, you're saying that there's
staff members currently that are not
[38:33] techsavvy.
there.
[38:36] » Well, you know, as new trucks come,
there's there's new
[38:42] parts and components to these trucks.
They it changes every year as as the
[38:47] next
>> absolutely
[38:48] » tier tier comes of of the diesel. Um
things are changed with it.
[38:52] » So, and they're also on our end, me and
me and Mike have talked, you know, maybe
[38:56] at some point here too, we're going to
have to look at updating our computer
[38:59] and our programming that what we can
communicate with the trucks with. Mhm.
[39:04] » Um cuz right now we have we have issues
with the Kenworth communicating with the
[39:07] Kenworth and getting the information
from our laptop to the Kenworth to
[39:12] actually diagnose some of these issues.
So I mean when it comes down to I mean
[39:18] the ideal candidate would be he would be
very good at at that part and he would
[39:23] be good at um just the components of the
new tier system on the diesel and
[39:28] diagnosing those issues. Um,
transmissions are another one of our
[39:33] issues, you know, cuz this this deaf
stuff kind of does kill us a bit. You
[39:37] know, it's hard on the trucks with our
with our plow trucks that the rate of
[39:41] speed that they're going, you know,
they're going 25 30 m an hour, they seem
[39:46] like they want to regenerate a lot and
we're having issues with the I don't
[39:50] know, I I botch it, but like the dowsing
rods or something or dowsies for the
[39:56] [gasps] the deaf system. Um, so yeah,
then they'll go into limp mode and now
[40:00] you got a truck stuck
at the at the time it's always the
[40:05] farthest point of the county away it
seems like, you know, and then you got
[40:08] to try and get this truck back to the
shop.
[40:09] » They can drive 5 miles an hour. It takes
>> but at a certain point the truck just
[40:14] says enough is enough and then it quits.
the, you know, the crux of this
[40:18] situation here is we have equipment
that's predef.
[40:30] » Yeah.
>> And but I guess where I was going with
[40:34] your with your comment about, you know,
having one or two people that have that
[40:39] that exp I'll say expertise to do that.
Is there a way that we can expand that
[40:44] and have a bigger depth and breath of
individuals that can can do that? And
[40:49] what does it take to do that? Is that a
internal inservices? Is that internal
[40:55] competencies? What what does it take to
become proficient at reading diagnostic
[41:01] equipment? Is that from the vendor that
we get the equipment from training more
[41:06] staff on how to how to use it?
>> I guess Jeeoff, I've never really
[41:10] researched it. I'm sure that there's,
you know, classes at NTC that would help
[41:15] assist somebody with that. How long the
class takes? I don't know. I mean, is it
[41:20] is it 6 months?
>> Right. Yeah. Is it a is it a two two
[41:24] day, eight hour class? Is it a like you
say, is it a six-month thing? I I don't
[41:28] know. But again, just having that
additional knowledge within the folks
[41:32] that we currently have and then that to
build on with who we have to get to the
[41:38] other pieces of this puzzle. Again, just
like Nick said, talking out loud in the
[41:43] middle of a meeting and brainstorming
can be dangerous, but um just trying to
[41:47] think of it outside of the box type of
deal. So,
[41:52] » does the manufacturers offer classes
like a new truck? Do they
[41:56] » Not that I've seen though. you know,
they, you know, so usually like if you
[42:01] buy a, you know, a truck with a whatever
Detroit and the transmission, I think
[42:05] you can go to the dealer and get all the
information to put on your laptop so
[42:10] that way you can talk to that truck,
>> scan the QR code.
[42:13] » Yeah. You know, um, and
but as far as classings for diagnos, I
[42:20] that I don't know. I never really
researched that.
[42:26] And I don't know what the technical
colleges in the area offer, whether it's
[42:31] Chipo Valley or Wasau, Rhineland or
Marshfield. Um, again, I'm kind of out
[42:37] of that loop, unfortunately.
>> Sure. And I guess I I don't know. Is
[42:41] this committee good with the department
sending people off for things like these
[42:46] if this is in the future if this is what
we need even not just looking for an
[42:52] individual but just our current staff to
try and keep them up to date with what
[42:57] we have
>> and some of the problems that happen
[42:59] with this equipment the dealerships are
throwing their hands up so we we don't
[43:04] know what to do with it we can't fix it.
>> Yeah. The other part of the training
[43:08] part is and it's always a struggle for
training for everybody and staff is the
[43:11] time. Y
>> I mean you got a limited amount of staff
[43:14] basically to do the work you got to do.
Where do you find the time to train
[43:17] them?
>> And I know you struggle with that just
[43:19] on your required trainings. Now we throw
in some other stuff that is another
[43:23] complication. So
>> like I said, it's not a not a simple
[43:26] issue.
>> The hard part is without training, you
[43:28] fall farther and farther behind and then
>> Exactly.
[43:32] » it you're gonna have to grow people.
That that's the only way to succeed. And
[43:36] it's going to save you money to send
somebody for two days to go learn
[43:39] something or like I said, if we can hire
a eager individual and train them up and
[43:45] get them for the next 20 years, you're
you're way ahead.
[43:48] » And and do they have a train to trainer
model where you get your super users
[43:52] here that are training your other staff
at whatever staff meetings or whatever
[43:56] you have that way. So,
>> and historically, we've had some really
[43:59] good mechanics that they're lone wolves,
right? They want to just
[44:04] » let me be good at what I'm good at and I
don't want to train. And that's
[44:08] » hard to go, hey, I don't want to lose
you because I'm gonna force you to train
[44:11] somebody. But also,
>> we need your help to make sure we're
[44:15] better here. And
>> there's Yeah, we can look at through
[44:20] admin to start paying for certificates
in that area. That
[44:26] it's a good first start. Again, based on
Sarah's research, it's not we're not in
[44:32] a we're not in a unique situation. This
is a across the state, mechanics,
[44:37] highway in general, jobs in general for
a lot of our positions. So, we'll keep
[44:43] working at it.
>> Okay. I guess that's the best we can do
[44:48] on that for for today.
>> We still haven't had any applicants come
[44:52] in the last month and a half, month,
whatever.
[44:59] Okay. Well, that's an information item.
We'll keep working on it. Number 10,
[45:04] Whistler report.
>> Yep. So, you got uh I shared the
[45:09] Whistler report. Um I believe I don't
know, Meredith, if you can pull up like
[45:14] the Whistler report from last year or
not. I tried Nick sent an email right
[45:19] before [laughter]
I was leaving the office and I was like,
[45:22] "Well,
>> you got it." And and sorry I was the one
[45:25] that sent it late last night because I
thought about and and in reference to
[45:29] the email for everybody else is I think
on the last page there shows the w kind
[45:34] of the conditions of ranges from 1 to
10.
[45:37] » Yeah.
>> The question my that I asked Nick that
[45:40] he referred to Roger is can we look at
that graph but take and have five years
[45:45] worth of data to see is our whistle
report trending better or worse
[45:50] depending based off the monies that
we've been investing in. I'll tell you
[45:53] right now it's trending better.
[laughter]
[45:55] » So,
>> exactly. But numbers speak volume.
[45:58] » This number right here,
>> the 18 point.
[46:01] » Yeah. Up in the 50s,
>> right? But it's just a nice visual to
[46:06] show.
>> And I don't know in Whistler if I could
[46:08] get a five-year graph like this or not.
Um I I'll I'll do some digging, but I at
[46:15] first glance in Whistler, I couldn't
find it. I think uh I'm a packrat and I
[46:20] bet you I could find the one I presented
when we first started the funding thing.
[46:24] So
>> Oh, I think I've got one in my drawer
[46:25] here, but
>> you might take a lot of digging.
[46:29] » So, I spoke with Jules and she'll send
it
[46:32] » to the highway department at the end of
the day. I do have it in my files if you
[46:36] want.
>> Okay. I didn't know I didn't know if
[46:37] somebody could print it off and share.
>> Yeah, I could share it on the screen if
[46:41] you'd like.
>> Okay, that would be good.
[46:42] » Last year's
>> Yep. So this would be just from so we
[46:46] would see the difference from what we
did last year compared to so if you look
[46:52] at what we did this year. So, which we
did county highway D and H with D. Uh
[46:58] that portion of D was in a three to four
and a portion of H was in a was in a one
[47:05] a one to two.
And then also um which over on the far
[47:11] 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
[47:12] 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
[47:16] um with 7 miles. So that you you can see
that's in a 3 to four. So that that
[47:21] that'll be dropping off as well. So
that'll be going into a 10.
[47:26] Um so we are growing and and if you look
everywhere it's green, that's what we've
[47:30] done in the last um five years. Um
which I'll tell you right now is is huge
[47:40] compared to most adjacent counties as
far as mileage in in the in in a year.
[47:45] Um, but as you can see, there is a lot
of red left on this map
[47:50] » that we haven't touched yet.
>> And the the lion share of that is
[47:54] because we've been borrowing money to
fix the roads and that's about the only
[47:58] way it's going to get done anymore.
>> Absolutely. Yeah.
[48:08] » So, you can see where your investment is
going. Mhm.
[48:14] » Also, the number's going to change
because D&H aren't on
[48:18] » on
>> on this. Correct.
[48:20] » So, you're going to take 17 miles out of
the 1 to four range and put it in the 9
[48:25] to 10 range.
>> So, 16 16 miles of DNH and then three
[48:31] and a half of of Y is ours.
>> Yeah. So, 20 miles basically is coming
[48:36] off of the one to four and going to the
10. Y
[48:39] » should be a 10.
>> So yeah, I mean we we did 20 miles of
[48:42] new asphalt this year.
>> Yeah.
[48:45] » Yeah. Uh kudos to our guys for having
D&H shouldered. I drove by Y on Monday
[48:49] and it's still not done and I feel like
that was done getting paved a while ago
[48:53] already.
>> So I um Jason and Jason Leurs in Lincoln
[48:58] County is in charge of the shouldering
aspect. They're they're having issues
[49:04] with the DNR um getting permitting on a
pit that they were in previously. So,
[49:10] and then now getting his contractor in
to do the crushing. So, um yeah. So,
[49:15] » all complaints I've been pushing it over
to Jason. [laughter]
[49:23] » Can you go down to the percentage?
[49:28] » Oh, got to rotate that one too. Yeah.
[49:35] There we go.
[49:43] » So then,
>> so what you're saying, Roger, then on
[49:46] this on this particular graph, the
section one and twos and threes and
[49:50] fours have not been taken out of the
stuff that you've done this year.
[49:54] » Correct. Yep. So as we update Whistler
now after the projects are done. So
[49:59] you'll we'll see that change after the
roadway is complete
[50:15] » I'm going to share quick too. So
yesterday or Monday the um
[50:21] the it's called the green book by Ford
Analytics came out. So when we discuss
[50:27] spending so you can pick demographics
economic development financing so total
[50:33] spending but if you go to highway
spending
[50:35] um it it goes by county um and it's so
it's anything in the light blue is up to
[50:42] $114 per person. 114 to 161 is the
medium blue. If you go to green, it's
[50:49] $161 to $215 and then more than $215 per
person that you spend on your highways.
[50:56] So, if you hover over our region, it
tells you how much. So, Price County
[51:00] does spend a lot per person. So, we
spend $477 per person uh on our highway
[51:07] system each year. Uh Sawyer County is
also in that dark color. They spend 218.
[51:12] So, we double most counties when it
comes to the high. Rusk is at 376.
[51:18] They're unique. Uh, if you follow Rusk
County, they did like a $10 million bond
[51:22] like four years ago and spent it all the
first year and then now they're just
[51:25] paying for it. So, they're not doing
multiple projects every year where we're
[51:30] in and out, in and out. And so, we're in
a sense a different way ahead because
[51:34] they tried to do something, but then
they just were like one big kick at it
[51:37] and then it was like, but now what? Um,
>> uh, Taylor County is 199, Iron's 229,
[51:46] Ashland's 162. Again, we hear about
Ashland and they don't do a lot of
[51:51] projects. Um,
>> does that include state work? Do you
[51:55] know the money that the dollars?
>> I believe this is what you put on your
[51:59] levy for
>> Okay.
[52:01] » Um, county spending. So, again, we're I
think we were the highest in the Oh, 415
[52:07] here. So, Adams, we're still higher, but
Adams County, Marquette's 351,
[52:13] Green Lakes 269. The The hardest Oh,
Iowa County, $747 per person.
[52:20] » Yeah. Right.
>> We highlight [clears throat] them.
[52:23] [laughter]
>> Yeah. The hardest part is like if you
[52:26] actually look at like a Brown County, it
says $90 per person, but they're
[52:29] spending a hundred times what we spend
on road work and they have
[52:33] » per capita and they have less roads,
right? So that's the problem is per
[52:38] miles is really what you should
>> Yeah. How many miles of county road are
[52:41] there in Brown County?
>> I couldn't I mean there is a I can look
[52:46] it up. Yeah.
>> Um
[52:48] » are you able to share this link?
>> Yeah, it's a forward analytics thing. It
[52:52] went out with WCA last on Monday, but it
does you know spending per person total
[52:59] spending. You know we are not the
highest in our region even though
[53:02] everybody says we have high taxes. We're
at 100 or $1,887
[53:06] per person where Iron County is at
$3,730
[53:10] per person. Ashlin's at $1,900.
Bayfield 2,400. Sawyer 1,900. Rust
[53:18] 2,300. So, it feels like we spend a lot,
but regionally
[53:22] we're we're not as
>> 117 miles of county trunk road
[53:28] » in Price County.
>> In Brown County.
[53:30] » Oh, in Brown. And we're 451 lane miles.
So, what's that?
[53:34] » Two7.
[53:41] » Do we don't get to counter summer res?
[laughter]
[53:45] » No.
>> So, anyways, it's a it's an interesting
[53:48] way to look at it. And I get it. It's
tough. We we have high numbers, but
[53:53] » um yeah,
>> Nick, do you know is that Doug had a
[53:56] good point there. Is that per capita of
uh residents in the county or taxpayers
[54:02] period in the county?
>> Uh residents
[54:04] » residents. So we're not that's my
understand
[54:06] » 50% of our our tax base.
>> Yeah. [laughter]
[54:10] » You know
>> 14,000 people.
[54:13] » Yeah. But Dor County is huge in vacation
stuff.
[54:19] » Yeah. So I mean it's an interesting
because like county property tax rate so
[54:23] a percentage. I mean across the state
there's a lot of dark colors and there's
[54:27] a lot of light colors but again it comes
down to value of property and and all
[54:32] those things and it changes real quick
if you have a good equalized value year.
[54:36] But just something to play with in the
future. It's your green book
[54:39] information.
>> But we do spend on highways.
[54:48] » Well, at least it's moving in the right
direction.
[54:51] » Yeah.
Slowly but surely slow slowly but surely
[54:56] going on the tracks. Right, Larry?
>> Sir, any other questions on the Whistler
[55:00] report?
>> Any comments
[55:07] information item construction report for
county highways D and H? Yeah. So,
[55:13] County Highway D um and H the
shouldering is done. So, what basically
[55:18] what we have left after today, they're
going to a little bit of shouldering
[55:22] left today. Um, they're going to be uh
doing driveways and then the line
[55:26] painting is going to be um coming
potentially in the next two weeks. So,
[55:33] th those projects will be finished up.
Um all the guardrails been done on the
[55:38] two bridges on County Highway D.
Um and the additional signs were added
[55:43] that was a part of the HISA project. Um,
[55:49] and then after after this it's just
going to be maintenance items for the
[55:53] rest of the rest of the season.
Transition in winter.
[55:57] » Can I ask you online painting county A
from North A? Is that happening this
[56:04] year or not?
>> Um, I guess I'd have to talk to Vance if
[56:08] he if that's on the list for updating
center line.
[56:11] » I just know the white lines there is
none this morning, but They're faded
[56:16] bad.
>> Yeah, we we've done can all we did D or
[56:22] 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
[56:26] B B B B B B B B B B B A South B parts of
E um through Lugerville F. I mean, line
[56:31] painting is expensive.
>> Is that something that you have
[56:35] rotation? You just so many
>> each year? Yeah, we try to do um 20 to
[56:41] 30 miles of line painting a year, but um
and ultimately you don't want to paint
[56:47] what you're going to do coming up
shortly for new asphalt. But yeah, that
[56:52] piece of A isn't really on the radar
yet, but
[57:05] any other questions on D and H
comments? Turned out well.
[57:13] » The ride, I think, could have been a
little bit better, but
[57:16] yeah,
>> you got to get a newer vehicle.
[57:19] [laughter]
[57:22] Take your pickup. Not a triacle.
>> Yeah.
[57:26] » Okay.
I'll accept the report on DNH
[57:31] department reports.
Roger.
[57:35] » Um
I don't have a lot. I didn't besides
[57:39] that my day-to-day stuff. Um
they did transition a little bit out of
[57:45] so [snorts]
um WCHA did merge some committees
[57:50] together. So now it is I got to look
here and see
[57:55] utility
um
[57:58] and
TAC and Acme all con merged. So now it's
[58:04] tech advisory and engineering standards
committee. So um which
[58:11] Um, basically they're just kind of
putting more people in in uh in one
[58:18] committee and then just smaller
subcommittees off of that now. So
[58:21] there's still tech advisory subcommittee
and a utility subcommittee. Um, that's
[58:27] the only thing really new at WCHA.
Um
[58:31] other than that I mean I'll be October
I'll be couple conferences a bridge
[58:36] preservation conference and uh airport
and tribal
[58:45] tribal
meeting in
[58:49] October. So road tour will have to be
somewhere between the first week of
[58:54] October or the third week of October.
Larry, just so you know.
[58:57] » Third week sounds better. think of
October.
[59:01] [gasps]
>> The 7th won't work.
[59:04] » No, I'll be out. I'll be
um Bridge Preservation, I believe, is in
[59:10] Chicago.
>> So, you
[59:15] » Oh, 7th. I would be okay.
>> You get a personal
[59:18] » I'll be gone.
>> I know. She has to tell me. She also
[59:22] almost has to tell me daily what's going
on.
[59:24] » That's awesome. [laughter]
Anything
[59:30] else for the commissioner reports?
[59:35] » Um Mike's been cutting grass. The uh the
assistant is out on medical leave right
[59:42] now. So it's just Mike by himself, but
he's just mowing and taking care of
[59:46] planes as they come in and out. Um not
much been going on there. Um there's a
[59:52] potential depends on whether or not the
BOA gets their uh the funding in place
[59:59] whether or not they might break ground
on the tea hangers yet this this this
[1:00:03] fall. Um but
Carl was unsure yet on whether or not
[1:00:08] the BOA funding will come in on time.
[1:00:13] No maintenance items this year will be
done. No crack filling next year. I
[1:00:19] guess Brian is what I was been told by
the BOA.
[1:00:24] » Okay. Dams.
>> Dams. We need rain.
[1:00:28] » Um, so everything is everything's low
right now. So the way things are, we
[1:00:33] don't even have to put out PSA for a
draw down because everything's low.
[1:00:39] » Have you
>> Is it below our our draw down rate
[1:00:42] already?
>> Yeah.
[1:00:45] Yeah. How's the complaints been?
Um, okay. I guess I I uh Dave said there
[1:00:54] is there was a request coming in as far
as wanting
[1:00:58] um what the DNR is requiring for flows
because the DNR requires a amount of
[1:01:04] flow coming out of Soulberg and and long
on all these dams. And so I just told
[1:01:10] Dave to reach out to Ryan Jarvis and and
let him know that, you know, the the
[1:01:15] request has come in for, you know,
somebody wants wants this information.
[1:01:19] So Ryan may be changing up some things a
little bit now, but we'll see. It's like
[1:01:26] he wants to redact some of the previous
things that he had put out there. So,
[1:01:31] but we'll see.
>> Well, it's something we have to live
[1:01:35] with. Nothing we can do about it. No, I
mean we I mean beside any everybody want
[1:01:40] running their garden holes in Soulberg,
that's the only way you're going to
[1:01:43] bring the water up.
>> Don't start doing that citizens,
[1:01:46] [laughter]
>> please.
[1:01:47] » Yeah, but they're all running the garden
hose out of the Soulberg to water the
[1:01:51] garden. [laughter]
[1:01:55] » It's [clears throat] low everywhere.
>> Yeah. Yeah. You look at you look at
[1:01:58] creeks and rivers. Um there isn't really
nothing nothing flowing anywhere.
[1:02:04] We're down 14 or 15 inches even.
[1:02:10] [laughter]
>> Okay. Highway crew.
[1:02:21] The crack filled bridge approaches on
state and county boom mode D north of
[1:02:26] Brandtwood patch state and county
highways.
[1:02:30] ruck paved for 49,000 feet of County
Highway H. [clears throat] Uh did a
[1:02:35] 30,000 feet of patch paving. So we
worked with uh American Asphalt. We had
[1:02:41] their paver uh three of their operators.
It [clears throat] was our attack truck,
[1:02:45] our rollers, our trucks. So we did um
that was yesterday. Turned out all
[1:02:52] right. I mean for what it for what the
road was, it's better. Yeah.
[1:02:58] Um,
>> where was that at? That was on
[1:03:00] » 8 S.
>> S. Okay.
[1:03:02] » Yeah, we did three spots in total. The
one spot was closer down towards
[1:03:08] » I don't know what that road is by
France.
[1:03:10] » Oh, sure.
>> Yeah, that it dropped off really bad.
[1:03:14] Most of the time in the spring, the
whole intersection was almost water. So,
[1:03:17] we kind of we brought put some recycling
in there, raised it up. So, we're going
[1:03:21] to do some ditching out there. So,
hopefully that isn't underwater come
[1:03:25] springtime again. But um
when we shouldered H and D, so
[1:03:32] that was pretty much last.
>> Any questions for Roger on that fleet
[1:03:38] and facilities?
>> Um not too much going on in in the shop
[1:03:42] neither.
Um just doing routine maintenance and
[1:03:46] repairs on on the trucks and all the
equipment. Um when they get some time
[1:03:52] for that, they they go on the V boxes
and just making sure they're ready to go
[1:03:56] for this winter. Going through some of
the plow equipment.
[1:04:01] That's about it.
>> Okay. Are there any questions or
[1:04:07] comments for Roger on any of the items?
If not, we'll move on to vouchers.
[1:04:13] What's your pleasure on the vouchers?
>> I'll make a motion to approve the
[1:04:17] vouchers as presented.
Motion by Spacic.
[1:04:21] » I'll second that.
>> Second by Baratka to approve as
[1:04:24] presented. Any further discussion? All
in favor signify by saying I. I.
[1:04:30] » Opposed.
>> Motion carried
[1:04:35] road tour in October
[1:04:40] 7 a.m.
>> I cannot do the first week. So
[1:04:45] » I I can't either on the first week. The
third week I could, but not the first
[1:04:49] week.
[1:04:53] » Make the joke. Do it after the board
meeting so you can't ask for more
[1:04:57] additional funding for the roads.
[laughter]
[1:05:02] » Well, we don't want to do it in
November.
[1:05:05] Kidding.
>> November ain't going to work for me.
[1:05:08] » Oh, okay. [laughter]
[1:05:12] » Well, what dates would work for you,
Roger? after the 13th. You said
[1:05:17] » uh the n the October the week of the
19th to the 23rd.
[1:05:24] » The week of the 19th would work or would
not work
[1:05:27] » would work if the first week doesn't
work for uh everybody else. The third
[1:05:33] week is the one the 19th through the
23rd.
[1:05:36] » Would the 22nd work?
>> Yeah. Land land meeting
[1:05:43] » on the 22nd.
[1:05:46] the 21st.
[1:05:54] » What day of the week is that?
>> It's a Wednesday.
[1:05:57] » Wednesday.
>> It's a Wednesday, the 21st.
[1:06:00] » And just for some reference, how what
type frame are we looking at?
[1:06:03] » Oh, you're going to have the best ride
of your life. And it starts at 7 a.m.
[1:06:07] and it goes to about 3 and Larry buys
lunch. Not
[1:06:10] » for lunch. No. Yeah.
And sometimes we cut it out early.
[1:06:15] Depends on how everybody's feeling.
>> I'm just wanting to block my
[1:06:19] » my other
>> You're going to want to block your day
[1:06:21] for this.
>> I'm going to Yep.
[1:06:23] » Be well worth the price of admission.
It's awesome.
[1:06:25] » Oh, I'm sure. [laughter] Cheap at twice
the price. Got it. Okay.
[1:06:29] » Even for a newcomer.
>> Yeah.
[1:06:31] » Sometimes we get orange juice and apple
juice. It's like a little kid on a bus
[1:06:34] again.
>> Perfect.
[1:06:36] » Awesome.
>> Now, [clears throat]
[1:06:38] we really have a ride.
>> Yeah. We invite the the whole county
[1:06:42] board to ant to uh participate.
>> Some come by choice, some come
[1:06:49] reluctantly.
[laughter]
[1:06:52] » We've never had to use handcuffs to get
anybody there, though.
[1:06:54] » No.
>> And we meet here at highway highway
[1:06:58] shop. We start there with a tour.
>> Perfect.
[1:07:03] » 21st works then, Joe?
>> Yes.
[1:07:06] » 21st will work for me.
>> Doug.
[1:07:08] » Doug.
Maybe if we can get drivers. I make sure
[1:07:13] I can get a school bus driver.
>> Oh,
[1:07:15] » let the kids drive themselves that day.
[1:07:22] » So you you could attend if you can find
a spare.
[1:07:24] » Yeah. Yeah. No, that works as good as
any day.
[1:07:30] » Okay. Well, I guess it's as good as any
other day. Are you going to come, Brian?
[1:07:36] » Why not?
>> Okay.
[1:07:39] Well, we have the date set then for our
our road tour and we've exhausted our
[1:07:45] agenda. So, I'll adjourn the meeting.