Price County Highway Committee Grapples With Mechanic Recruitment, Approves Patch Trailer and State Debt Collection Agreement

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Price County Highway Committee Grapples With Mechanic Recruitment, Approves Patch Trailer and State Debt Collection Agreement

Last updated: September 2026

The Price County Highway and Transportation Committee tackled a crowded agenda at its August 5 meeting, taking action on a state debt collection agreement, a $45,000 patch trailer purchase, and three bridge and culvert aid resolutions while wrestling with a persistent shortage of qualified mechanics.

Committee Chair Joe Barreca and members Doug Erickson, Larry Palachuk, Jeff Ulrich, and Jordan Spacek were present. Highway Commissioner Roger and County Administrator Nick provided staff updates throughout the meeting. The committee approved minutes from its May 6 meeting unanimously before turning to action items.

Mechanic Recruitment Crisis Dominates Discussion

The most extensive discussion of the morning centered on the highway department’s inability to attract qualified mechanics at its current starting wage of approximately $24 per hour. Roger told the committee that the position has been open for several months and that applicants worth considering have not been coming forward.

The problem, Roger explained, is that private sector mechanics are earning $30 to $34 per hour. The county’s mechanics are classified at the same pay step as operators, starting around $24 per hour with 2.5% annual step increases over five years. Mechanics are required to hold a commercial driver’s license and supply their own hand tools, but they do not receive premium pay for those requirements.

Nick told the committee that when the county conducted its wage study, the mechanic position was benchmarked against surrounding counties and came back in line with what other counties pay. Rather than simply raising all three mechanic positions, Nick suggested creating a “lead mechanic” role with specific certifications such as diesel mechanic credentials, which would justify a higher pay grade in the $30 per hour range. The lead mechanic would handle major repairs in-house, saving the county the cost of transporting trucks to repair facilities in Minocqua, Rhinelander, Wausau, or Marshfield.

“If you just change everybody to a mechanic, you’re not going to be able to cover that cost potentially,” Nick said. He argued that the savings from avoiding big repair bills and the lost time of sending two employees to transport trucks for off-site repairs would help justify the higher wage.

Committee members debated the practical challenges of creating tiered positions. Roger noted that drawing a line between what a technician and a mechanic do could create friction in the shop, where currently all mechanics handle whatever work comes through the door. He said the two current mechanics, including a senior employee named Tom who handles electrical work, transmissions, and holds air conditioning certification, can handle everything the department needs. A younger mechanic named Joel is learning from the senior staff but needs the opportunity to take on more complex work to develop his skills.

Nick emphasized that the county’s benefits package, which adds approximately 40% to 60% on top of base wages depending on the department, is a significant advantage that private employers do not offer. He said county retention is strong, with average tenure exceeding nine years, but recruitment remains the core problem. Nick noted that younger workers often focus on take-home pay rather than long-term benefits.

“Nobody seems to look at it as a career anymore,” Roger said, recalling that the department once received 200 applications for a single highway position.

The committee reached consensus on a two-step approach: clean up the current job description to ensure the posting accurately reflects what the department is seeking, and begin developing a lead mechanic position with certifications to present to the Administration Committee in the coming months. Roger and county human resources staff will also reach out to surrounding counties to compare job descriptions and recruitment strategies. The committee asked for an update at the September meeting, with the goal of having a lead mechanic position in place before winter.

State Debt Collection Agreement Approved

The committee voted unanimously to proceed with a state debt collection agreement that would allow the county to recover revenue from individuals and companies that damage county infrastructure and refuse to pay. Sarah, the highway department’s administrative staff member, explained that the program is used by several Wisconsin counties including Walworth, Racine, Marinette, and Portage.

Under the agreement, the county would bill the responsible party directly for damages such as fire service calls, EMS responses, or contractor damage to roadways. If the bill goes unpaid for at least 90 days, the county would send the debt to the state, which handles collection. A 15% administrative fee is charged to the debtor, not to the county, similar to a credit card processing surcharge.

Roger noted that the program could have helped recover costs from a winter incident where the county wrote off significant expenses after the responsible party did not pay. The committee asked staff to return with the final agreement details, including confirmation of the fee structure, before the agreement is formally signed.

Jeff Ulrich asked whether municipalities could also participate in similar agreements with the state. Sarah said she would inquire and share contact information with townships interested in the program.

Patch Trailer Purchase Approved

The committee approved a $45,000 purchase from Step Manufacturing for a new gravity-feed patch trailer. Roger said the old patch trailer, which was scheduled to be junked, is rusted through with materials falling through the bottom. The department likes to have all three patch wagons operating simultaneously in springtime to keep up with road maintenance demands.

The equipment fund currently carries a balance of approximately $341,000, which includes the cost of a new plow truck expected to arrive before snow season. Sarah confirmed that the fund is replenished annually through depreciation at roughly $500,000, and the purchase falls within the existing five-year equipment plan. The motion passed unanimously on a motion by Barreca with a second from Ulrich.

Bridge and Culvert Aid for Three Towns

The committee approved three bridge and culvert aid resolutions. The Town of Fifield project is a joint effort with the U.S. Forest Service, which is contributing funds toward a culvert replacement on an ATV trail. The Town of Hill project involves deteriorated culverts that have caused overtopping issues, with the county serving as contractor. The Town of Prentice resolution passed with Erickson abstaining.

Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan Gets First Review

The committee conducted its first review of the five-year capital improvement plan, which will be finalized at the September meeting before going to the full county board as part of the budget process. Roger said the plan maintains the same annual funding level for road improvement projects that the county has used for several years.

The committee discussed the sequencing of road projects, including concerns about Highway C and Highway N. Roger explained that Highway C is scheduled to connect with a Highway A project in the Village of Prentice, which should yield cost savings on mobilization. The committee also reviewed the equipment replacement plan, noting that plow truck costs have risen to approximately $361,000 per unit. Roger said the department may convert an older Western Star truck into a tanker truck by 2028 to save on equipment costs.

Nick explained that the committee’s approval moves the plan forward in the budget cycle. Changes can still be made before the September meeting, where the committee will finalize its recommendation to the full board.

Six Price County Towns Receive State LIP Grants

Roger announced that Price County municipalities received six of 101 projects awarded statewide through the Local Improvements Program, out of 430 applications. The grants cover 90% of project costs, with the towns responsible for the remaining 10%. The county’s share of bridge and culvert aid for the local matches is estimated at approximately $88,000.

Awarded projects include Bennett Road in the Town of Hackett, Altman Lake bridge in the Town of Hill, East Branch Road in the Town of Knox, Knight Lane in the Town of Georgetown, Sailor Lake Campground in the Town of Fifield, and German Settlement Road in the Town of Spirit. Roger noted that several of the projects involve concrete bridges costing roughly $500,000 each, making the state grant funding significant for the towns involved.

Rising Equipment Costs and Department Updates

During the voucher review, Roger highlighted sharp increases in plow blade costs. A blade that cost $250 last year now costs $800, driven by a shortage of carbide. Only one mine worldwide is currently mining carbide, Roger said. Pulverizer teeth have also jumped from $5 to $30 each, costs that are expected to surface in next year’s paving budgets.

Roger also reported on road work completed since the last meeting, including 13 culvert replacements on County Highway D in Brantwood, a large culvert installation on a U.S. Forest Service ATV trail in the Town of Fifield, culvert replacements in the Town of Worcester and Village of Catawba, and pulverizing work on Highways H and D. He acknowledged dust and gravel complaints from residents during the dry spell but said the department worked through the issues.

Committee member Paula, who lives along the H and D construction zone, pushed back against criticism the department has received on social media. She praised the highway crew for grading out washboarding promptly, accommodating a funeral procession through the work zone, and completing the Dover curve project to a high standard.

“Everything on Facebook is not what it should be,” she said. “Good job, Roger, to your group.”

The Price County Airport is experiencing delays on crack filling and top coat projects, which have been pushed to next summer. The airport’s hamburger social is scheduled for August 13. Roger also reported that dam conditions are generally good, though the department is seeking independent dive inspections to evaluate concrete deterioration at one location.

The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for September 2, with a potential road tour planned for October. The September meeting will finalize the capital improvement plan for the county board’s budget process.

See also: our ATV trail guide for Price County

See also: our guide to free camping in Wisconsin

See also: what makes Price County communities special

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