Marathon County Infrastructure Committee Meeting - 11/5/26

The Marathon County Infrastructure Committee meeting on November 5, 2026, reviewed the 2027 budget process and several transportation and facilities matters. County staff said the budget included funding for the highway facility, and the state was contributing toward a salt shed through discretionary funding included in the county’s FY2027 budget. Members were asked to submit any budget amendments promptly; no amendment or purchasing vote was recorded. In a discussion of the state highway routine maintenance agreement, members raised concerns about whether reimbursement rates fully cover county equipment, labor, and facility costs. Staff agreed to provide additional cost and reimbursement information. Staff also noted that replacement plow blades had risen from about $300 to $750 each, with a set for a truck increasing from roughly $4,000 to $10,000; the state and counties are discussing how these cost increases affect rate calculations.

The committee considered a proposed county ordinance designating an ATV/UTV route that includes a state highway bridge and causeway. Members discussed traffic volume, safety, route use, and signage; the transcript records approval of the route measure for county board consideration, and a separate motion directing staff to formally ask WisDOT to approve flashing signage carried 5–2. The committee also received background on a potential Safe Routes to School/recreational trail request in Kronenwetter: communities typically lead applications, with the county assisting, and the next application cycle is expected in fall 2027. No vendor selection or contract award was identified.