[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.

Highway & Transportation Committee Meeting 09/02/2026

Transcript