Road & Traffic Safety Committee Meeting — Minutes

Town of OregonRoad and Traffic Safety Committee Meeting MinutesThursday, July 10, 2025Minutes corrected and approved Thursday, August 14, Road and Traffic Safety Committee meeting 1. Call Meeting to Order: 9:00 a.m. 2. Roll Call: Members present—Arlan Kay, Abel Schultz, Chuck Crawford, Jeff Jones, Susan LeBrun, Robert Pultz, Corey Inman, Laurie Fitzgerald. Absent: Steve Sommerfeld 3. Approval of May 22, 2025, minutes: Pultz (1); Crawford (2) Motion carried. 4. Public Comments: a. David and Kathleen Batker: clump of willows obstructing visibility for motorists in right-of-way at intersection of Alpine and Glenway Roads. The Batkers requested permission to spray the willows with Crossbow. Motion to approve Batkers’ request: Kay (1); Pultz (2). Motion carried. b. Eugene Lewis requested the Committee to lower speed limit on County MM where pedestrians cross from Kennedy Park over to Bicentennial Park. Heavy traffic on MM, including gravel trucks coming from Mandt. The Committee will follow up: LeBrun will reach out to Village of Oregon to propose coordinating on a speed study. Motion: Road and Traffic Safey Committee will recommend to the Board of Supervisors approve further study of this issue (including traffic study): Kay (1); Crawford (2). Motion carried. c. Jennifer Dorl asked the Committee whether provisions will be made to protect the nesting habitat for swallows at Bellbrook Bridge if the bridge is replaced during nesting season. Inman: the bridge would be replaced during nesting season, but there is a procedure to net the swallow habitat during construction. 5. Discussion and possible action re: discussion with Dane County about a joint project to install culvert between Locust Grove Road and Anderson Farm County Park—LeBrun contacted Dane County, but has not received reply. 6. Discussion and possible action regarding school bus stop at 6141 Purcell Road—Schultz has not heard back from the bus service as to whether the route will be reversed for 2025-2026 school year. In the meantime, he plans to install the second warning sign the Committee approved. 7. Discussion and possible action re: Update on 2025 Road Work—The Raven Oaks Project came in with a $50,000 plus overage. LeBrun and Schultz have reviewed the charges and determined that Payne and Dolan 1) used different measurements for number of square yards of road than the Town used in preparing the request for bids; and 2) applied a thicker layer of asphalt than Town requested (specs called for 3.5 inches). To Do: LeBrun, Jones, Inman, and Schultz will work with Payne and Dolan and have results ready to share with the Town Board at the August meeting. Kay asked that the August report to the Town Boad include the recommendation to add a clause in our road contracts requiring an independent party to inspect and sign off on final projects. 8. Discussion of proposed revisions to contract language for future seal coating projects—Work to identify possible revisions is ongoing. To do: a) Crawford and Pultz will prepare revisions for review at August meeting; b) LeBrun proposed adding a 5 percent retainer to the contract as safety net contingent upon satisfactory completion of projects; c) LeBrun will check DOT quality control specifications for sealcoating projects for guidance the Town can follow in future contracts. 9. Pavement markings 2025 project and plans for 2026—Residents’ response to striping has been positive. Committee discussed candidates for 2026 striping. Motion: Request bids from Dane County for striping the following town roads in 2026 a) Lincoln Road west of intersection with Fish Hatchery b) Glenway between County A and Lincoln Road c) Hillcrest between A and Lincoln Road d) Union Road for one mile north of A e) Sun Valley Parkway f) Purcell Road (possible collaboration with City of Fitchburg} Motion carried; LeBrun (1); Jones (2) Le Brun will request the bids 10. Update and possible action re: Bellbrook Bridge and availability of grant money, per WIDOT’s Local Program Symposium on 2026-2031 Funding Cycle (May 22, 2025). Inman: no word yet from WiDOT. 11. Discussion and possible action re: road and traffic safety concerns:a) Improving visibility and sight distance at intersection of Hillcrest Road and County A (outreach to Clement Abongwa at Dane County)—In an e-mail dated June 13, 2025, Charlene Schmid (P.E., Dane County) replied to Town’s request for help at this intersection She wrote: “our initial investigation leads us to believe that it would require a significant effort and possibly retaining wall design to stay within our right of way. We will look to incorporate this work within a future project on CTH A. In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the growth and provide mowing as needed.” Schultz noted the County has been doing a better job of mowing at this intersection, which has improved visibility. b) Movable message board (possible uses)—Steve Jernegan is looking for used message boards that the Town could purchase. 12. Discussion and possible action re: informing Residents of the need to keep Rights of Way clear of vegetation and visual obstructions. Pultz has drafted a letter to Residents. Committee discussed: 1) enclosing this letter with the tax bills that are sent to residents at the end of the year; 2) posting it on the web site; 3) Ryan and Abel dropping it off at resident’s homes when violations are identified. To do for next Committee meeting: a) Pultz will prepare final draft; b) Schultz and Pultz will compile a list of violations that need to be addressed. c) Schultz will take another look at vegetation in right-of-way on north side of intersection at Glenway and A. Brush was removed earlier this summer, but there may be additional growth. 13. Discussion and possible action re: 2026 road plan--Committee discussed tasks to do as the Committee prepares 2026 plan and budget request: a) Compile PASR ratings for 2025 (LeBrun) b) Frenchtown Project: adjust cost to $70,000 c) Compile culvert inventory; ideally, the Town would align plans for replacing culverts with the five-year road work plan d) Culvert replacement and tree removal at 921 Wesley Road. Culvert was installed in resident’s yard, causing water to flow through the yard, causing a tree to die. Resident has asked Town who is responsible for removing the tree. e) Submit request to apply our TRIP grant money to upcoming work on Rome Corners Road. Town’s request to use the grant money for 2025 Raven Oaks project was denied. 14. Set future meeting date: 9 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025 15. Adjournment: 11:45 a.m.