Traffic

Taylor County Traffic Safety Committee June 2, 2026 3rd Floor County Board Room, Taylor County Courthouse Call Meeting to Order: Chris Kauer called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. Members Present: Lori Floyd – County Board Supervisor, Benjamin Stanfley -TCHD, Todd Rasmussen-BOTS, Anna Iverson -WISDOT, Cory Schalinske – WSP, Chris Kauer-TASO Others Present: None Motion by Schalinske/Stanfley and carried to approve the minutes of the March 3, 2026, meeting of the Taylor County Traffic Safety Committee. Chris Kauer, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, reported a total of 70 traffic accidents last quarter. 0 traffic fatalities, 0 with suspected serious injuries. 21 were deer related. 14 involved teen drivers, 14 involved drivers 65+ and 3 were impaired drivers. Todd Rasmussen, BOTS Law Enforcement Liaison • Based on the last three-year average, crashes are down, crashes involving drivers 65 and older are up. • Aggressive Driver Flag based on three tiers of behaviors involved in a crash (i.e. speeding, failure to yield, etc.). • Citation data for the county this year: There were more than 700 enforcement actions taken, more than 500 of these were citations and more than 300 were warnings. • Highway Safety Improvement Program, requirements, and application deadlines. • Governor’s Conference (August 24 -25, 2026, in Wisconsin Dells), conference topics, and breakout groups, and the Traffic Safety Coordinator Meeting and Dinner. • New Bills: No New Bills • Signed into Law: o Purple lights for funeral processions o UTV weight increased from 3,000 lbs. to 3,500 lbs. o Subpoenas for work related activity served at place of work o New Informing the Accused forms Anna Iverson, WISDOT ▪ No New Updates Other Traffic Safety Issues • Nothing to report Next Committee Meeting: The next regular meeting of the Taylor County Traffic Safety Committee will be September 1, 2026, at 10:30 A.M. Adjournment: Motion by Stanfley/Floyd and carried to adjourn at approximately 10:50 a.m. Taylor County Traffic Safety Committee March 3, 2026 3rd Floor County Board Room, Taylor County Courthouse Call Meeting to Order: Benjamin Stanfley called the meeting to order at 10:35 a.m. Members Present: Benjamin Stanfley-TCHD, Cory Schalinski -WSP, Todd Rasmussen - BOTS, Jon Luck -WSP, Chris Kauer -TASO, Chad Liske -MPO, Anna Iverson-WISDOT Others Present: None Motion by Liske/Kauer and carried to approve the minutes of the December 2, 2025 meeting of the Taylor County Traffic Safety Committee. Motion by Rasmussen/Luck and carried to approve the agenda with 8 items. Chris Kauer, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, from December 2025 to present, reporting a total of 84 traffic accidents. 0 traffic fatalities, 4 with suspected serious injuries. 19 were deer related. 18 involved teen drivers, 22 involved drivers 65+ and 5 were impaired drivers. Suspected Serious Injury Crashes: 1. Vehicle passed over a patch of ice, left the roadway, and struck an electric fence. Weather conditions that day were freezing rain. 2. Vehicle passed over a patch of ice, left the roadway, rolled, and came to rest upside down in the ditch. Driver was suspected of operating too fast for conditions and operating while impaired. 3. A vehicle was southbound on the highway and slid across the centerline into the northbound lane where it struck a northbound vehicle which rolled and came to rest upside down. Both vehicles left the roadway onto the east side. 4. A westbound vehicle failed to negotiate a curve on the highway and ente red the ditch before rolling, striking two signs, ramping off an embankment, and it came to rest upright in the ditch. Todd Rasmussen, BOTS Law Enforcement Liaison • There were 545 reported fatalities in WI in 2025, compared to 576 for 2024. • Taylor County had 378 crashes, 4 fatalities, 98 injured in 2025, compared to 390 crashes, 0 fatalities, 103 injured in 2024. • There have been 49 fatalities in WI in 2026 • Community Maps Virtual Office Hours are the second Monday of each month from 12 -1 p.m. • RCUT (Restricted Crossing U -Turn) Creates a type of reduced conflict intersection that reroutes left-turn and crossing traffic through U -Turn intersections. It reduces potential of severe injury crashes by reducing the amount of conflict points. • Place of Last Drink – New Statewide program. When an OWI stop is made – identifying where the driver’s involved in alcohol related incidents are drinking and potential places where overservice might be happening • Governor’s Conference – August 24-25, 2026 • New Bills: o ALPR Grants o Stop for Pedestrians o Occupational Licenses (for OWI 4th offenders) o Automated License Plate Readers o Conceal Carry o Electronic ID Cards o Speed Limiters o Operating while Intoxicated o Cell Phone while driving prohibition o Driver test over age 75 o Legalizing Cannabis o Motor vehicle crash reporting • Signed into Law: o Move over slow down disabled vehicle o ATV/UTV Registered out of State o License Plate concealment devices o Police vehicle light o 911 Dispatcher immunity o Increased weight limits for utv’s Anna Iverson, WISDOT o 2026 Construction Update: State Highway 13 ▪ Little Black River Bridge ▪ Detour from STH 29 – STH 97 – STH 64 Other Traffic Safety Issues • Nothing to report Next Committee Meeting: The next regular meeting of the Taylor County Traffic Safety Committee will be June 2, 2026 at 10:30 A.M. Adjournment: Motion by Rasmussen/Luck and carried to adjourn at approximately 10:51 a.m.