Highway Committee Regular Meeting Agenda (PDF)

AGENDA THURSDAY OCTOBER 8, 2026 –9:00 AM HIGHWAY COMMITTEE OF OCONTO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 301 WASHINGTON STREET, COURTHOUSE BUILDING “A” ROOM #3041 OCONTO WI 54153 www.ocontocountywi.us This is an open meeting of a Standing Committee of the Oconto County Board of Supervisors. Notice of this meeting was given to the public at least twenty-four hours prior to the meeting, by forwarding the complete agenda to the newspapers and to all news media who have requested the same as well as by posting. Copies of the complete agenda were available for inspection at the Office of the County Clerk and from the County’s website calendar: www.ocontocountywi.us 1. Call to Order 2. Statement of County Mission and Vision 3. Approval of Agenda 3.1. Change of Sequence 3.2. Removal of Items 4. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting (Enc.) 5. Review Prior Months Vendor Payments (Enc.) 6. Communications 7. Facility Update 8. Approve Sales Tax Funding – Emergency Bridge Repair Work (Enc.) 9. Roadwork Update 10. Staffing Update 11. Equipment Update 12. Paving Goals 13. Announcements/General Information (No action to be taken) 14. Next Meeting Date 15. Adjournment Any person wishing to attend the meeting who requires special accommodation because of a disability should contact the Oconto County Clerk’s office at 920-834-6800 at least 24 hours before the meeting begins so that appropriate accommodations can be made. Persons who are members of another governmental body, but who are not members of this committee, may attend this meeting. Their attendance could result in a quorum of another governmental body being present. Such a quorum is unintended and they are not meeting to exercise the authority, duties, or responsibilities of any other governmental body. Courthouse Building “A” is located at the corner of Washington Street and Arbutus Avenue c: Committee(FTP); County Administrator, Finance Director, Corporation Counsel, Media (via email); County Website; Central File, Official Posting Location (Physical Copy) VMH/Date Posted: October 2, 2026 MINUTES THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 – 9:00 A.M. HIGHWAY COMMITTEE OF OCONTO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 301 WASHINGTON STREET, COURTHOUSE BUILDING “A” ROOM #3041 OCONTO WI 54153 www.ocontocountywi.gov (Draft minutes not approved by committee) COMMITTEE PRESENT: David Christianson, Dave Behrend, Bob Wolf, Joel Lavarda, Bill Hugo ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: Brandon Hytinen - Highway Commissioner; Richard Heath - County Administrator; Al Sleeter - County Board Chair, Beth Ellingson- Corporation Counsel, Vanessa Hasenberg – Account Technician, Betty Bickel – Finance Director, Kurt Berner – Samuels Group, Mike Beyer- County Board Supervisor, Char Meier – County Board Supervisor, Bruce Jeske 1. Call to Order Chair Christianson called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. 2. Statement of County Mission and Vision Statement of County Mission and Vision was read by Brandon Hytinen, Highway Commissioner. 3. Approval of Agenda 3.1 Change of Sequence – None. 3.2 Removal of Items – None. Motion by Lavarda/Behrend to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was voted and carried. 4. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting(s) Motion by Wolf/Behrend to approve August 6, 2026, minutes as presented. The motion was voted and carried. 5. Review Prior Months Vendor Payments Vendor payments were discussed. 6. Communications -NPH- Hytinen discussed two properties in the Town of Riverview with Gabe Moody, regarding vision corners and set back requirements. -Multiple calls received from motorists regarding condition of RR crossings on CTH-A and CTH-E. Spoke with rep from E&LS and he stated they are doing work in Green Bay and then plan to work on our crossings. -Email received regarding Machickanee Players’ Trunk or Treat Halloween event. The church is no longer holding the event, and they would like to close one block of Park Avenue. Formal request with details coming in the future. -Information received from Frost Solutions regarding weather cameras signage. They will provide signs for a small fee to label them as weather cameras so they are not mistaken by the public as flock cameras. We already have some signs on order. -Email received about vision issue on CTH-I and Grassy Court. Trees are off the right-of-way so property owner was notified and trimmed by our department. -Hasenberg read guidance from county clerk regarding procedures to be followed for public input during meetings per County Board Rules 2.111(b). 7. Facility Update -Hytinen summarized motion carried at August County Board meeting for Samuels Group to engage with Pfefferle on land negotiation. -Berner stated that Excel continues to evaluate parcels based on the design size that provides a 50 plus year solution for equipment storage and maintenance. Any options found by Excel will be given to Pfefferle who will then contact owner for interest. No properties available for discussion at this time. Hugo questioned the time spent researching previous properties. Berner explained that land was listed for sale and the owners allowed a wetland delineation determination to take place knowing our interest in purchase. Beyer questioned size difference between Barientos plan verses Excel plan. Berner answered that Barrientos based their plan on space needed now, whereas the Excel plan leaves room for equipment and future growth. Excel was asked to create a design that provides a 50 plus year solution for equipment storage and maintenance. Alternate designs can still be considered. Behrend commented the size of the footprint is created based on standards needed otherwise it will be designed inefficiently. Sleeter reminded committee the first step is land purchase. Finalizing square footage and floor plan will be done at a later date and all those stages will require county board approval. Hugo questioned if the time spent on searching for properties is costing the county more money, Berner stated it is included in this phase. 8. Approve 2027 Budget 2027 Budget Goals/Objectives & Changes Report shown on screen. Goals are to acquire funding for our share of CTH-R STP-Rural project, for the machinery rate increase, for increased salt costs and replacement of aging equipment. The department would like any additional available funding for our paving account. Currently the amount in our paving account only allows about half of the required miles per year to be paved based on 20-year life cycle. Three-Year Financial Information shown on screen. Bridge aid amount higher in 2027 due to April 15 flood event. Budget report shown on screen. Hytinen stated he continues to apply for STP funding which brought the total paved for 2026 to 14.3 miles. Heath responded that the fund balance is needed for other expenses and to earn interest. Costs are going up and the fund is needed to safeguard and protect the 2026 budget first. Any increases to paving would come directly from general fund. Sleeter commented Oconto County is not in favor of bonding for the paving of roads. Hugo questioned contracting trucks for use during paving season to save on costs, Hytinen answered all trucks are needed for snow removal as well. Motion by Behrend/Wolf to approve the 2027 budget and forward to full County Board for approval. The motion was voted and carried. 9. Roadwork Update - Brush cutting and mowing vision corners. - Paving Little Suamico frontage road today and busy paving other town road projects . - CTH-CC bridge complete. Once final payment has been made, will submit to LRIP for reimbursement. - Smyth Road bridge preliminary structure plans have been approved. -Work continues on STH-22 in Gillett. Sidewalks being poured, and final landscaping taking place. Photo shown on screen of damage to concrete from vehicle driving through barricades. - CTH-C STP (surface transportation program) project complete. One driveway access had to be repaved due to being too steep. Walk through done by Hytinen determined it needed to be reshouldered. - Two culverts that need replacing on CTH-S west of CTH-J are ordered. - Working on LRIP reimbursement for CTH-S and CTH-F projects. - Additional paving on CTH-F in Lakewood are planned for this season. If not completed this year, the funds will carry over for next paving season. 10. Staffing Update - New mechanic started in Suring shop transferred to work in Oconto shop starting today. - Resignation received from operator leaving to start own business. - Will work with HR to schedule the next round of interviews. 11. Equipment Update - Roller delivered, delivery of trailer is delayed. - 2016 (1) ton transmission has been repaired and is back in service. - 2022 (1) ton with cam shaft out, engine replaced and repairs under warranty. - Blade costs shown on screen for 2024/25 season compared to current bids. Carbide blades have increased from $251 to $765. Hytinen verified we cannot purchase direct from wholesaler. Carbide blades can last a couple seasons verses steel blades that may only last one storm. Wolf questioned if end of year discount is available. Hytinen replied it is difficult to know how many will be needed in advance since it is dependent on the weather. Last year our department purchased 62 underbody blades. 12. Paving Goals Discussed during item 8. No further discussion. 13. Announcements/General Information (No action to be taken) -Hytinen to attend commissioner training in Oshkosh at the end of September. -Lavarda reminded committee of September 11 observance at 9am outside of courthouse. 14. Next Meeting Date Next meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 8, at 9:00 a.m. in the County Board Room. 15. Adjournment Chair Christianson declared meeting adjourned at 9:54 am vh - Recorder Date Posted: September 15, 2026 RESOLUTION – R2026-10-xx 1 2 To: The Honorable Chair and Members of the Oconto County Board of Supervisors 3 4 Re: Approve County Sales Tax Funding—County Highway Emergency Bridge Repair 5 6 WHEREAS, Oconto County adopted a county Sales Tax in 1994 to help fund annual debt service 7 payments and subsequently to pay for Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects; and 8 9 WHEREAS, the Sales Tax account contains unallocated funds to be used for projects and project 10 costs that are not known during the annual CIP budget development process; and 11 12 WHEREAS, Wisconsin counties under Wisconsin Statues Chapter 83 are responsible for the 13 construction of highways built with county aid, and the continuing repair and upkeep of all highways 14 maintained by the county; and 15 16 WHEREAS, the Highway Department has a bridge that has suffered concrete deck damage due to 17 the bridge rail being hit and has been determined to need immediate repair; and 18 19 WHEREAS, the Highway Department reached out to four (4) contractors to quote this repair work 20 and received three (3) responses ranging in price from $76,588 to $148,475; and 21 22 WHEREAS, the lowest estimate submitted was from G.J. Grube Construction Company Inc. of 23 Chilton, WI 53014; and 24 25 WHEREAS, until the damaged concrete is removed, we won’t know if the bridge rail post anchors 26 have been damaged, so we are requesting an additional $5,000 to cover unforeseen costs; and 27 28 WHEREAS, since the repairs are scheduled to begin the third week in October 2026 prior to County 29 Board, Section 2.0 (4.) Emergency Purchases of the Financial Management Policy was followed; and 30 31 WHEREAS, the amounts listed above will have a total fiscal impact of $81,588, funded with 32 unallocated Sales Tax revenue. 33 34 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Oconto County Board of Supervisors does 35 hereby approve $81,588 for the purpose of immediate repairs to the bridge deck. 36 37 Submitted this 22nd day of October, 2026. 38 39 By: ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE HIGHWAY COMMITTEE 40 41 Alan Sleeter, Chair David Christianson, Chair 42 Dennis Kroll David Behrend 43 Carol Heise Bill Hugo 44 John Matravers Robert Wolf 45 Char Meier Joel Lavarda 46 Don Bartels 47 48 Electronically Reviewed by Corporation Counsel on 10.02.2026 - BLE 49 50 Adopted by an electronic vote: _____ Ayes, _____ Nays, _____ Absent, _____ Abstain, _____ Vacant 51