Highway Committee Approves $3.1 Million Capital Improvement Plan
Last updated: September 2026
The Price County Highway and Transportation Committee unanimously approved its five-year capital improvement plan at its September 2 meeting, forwarding a $3.1 million annual funding request to the county budget process — the same figure the department has requested for several years.
Highway Commissioner Roger told the committee the funding level has remained flat despite inflation. “I’m not requesting any above that for inflation,” he said. “We’ll just do what we do with what we got.”
Committee Chair Joe Baratka and members Doug Erickson, Larry Palachuk, Jordan Spacek, and Jeff Ulrich were all present. The plan passed on a motion by Baratka with a second from Spacek.
The committee also approved a short-term debt resolution for 2027 road construction projects at the same $3.1 million level, along with a separate equipment improvement program covering 2028 through 2032 and a facilities improvement program. All items passed unanimously. The borrowing resolution requires a three-fourths vote of the full county board.
The facilities plan includes concrete bunkers for material storage at the highway shop on Old 13, a cold-storage building for tar, and eventual roof work on the shop’s 1939-era section. Roger noted that insulation is falling from the ceiling in the older building. “Some new white tin would probably brighten it up in there a little bit,” he said.
State Highway 70 Resurfacing Scheduled for 2029
Committee member Jeff Ulrich reported on a Wisconsin Department of Transportation WebEx meeting regarding the Highway 70 resurfacing project, scheduled for 2029. The project spans 19.1 miles from Fifield to the county line, involving two inches of milling and resurfacing, bridge work, and replacement of seven culverts. Traffic will be managed with one-lane flagging during construction.
Ulrich noted the meeting was preliminary scoping, with additional meetings expected before the design phase begins.
County Highways D and H Nearing Completion
Roger reported that the County Highway D and H resurfacing projects are nearly finished, with shouldering complete and driveway work remaining. Line painting is expected within two weeks. Guardrails on two bridges on Highway D have been installed, and additional signs were added as part of a HISSIP project.
After these projects wrap up, the department will shift to maintenance items for the remainder of the season before transitioning to winter operations.
The committee also discussed line painting on County Highway A, where faded center lines were noted. Roger said the department typically paints 20 to 30 miles of lines per year on a rotating basis.
Road Conditions Trending Upward, Spending Among Highest in State
Roger presented the Whistler road condition report, showing road quality trending in a positive direction. The department completed approximately 20 miles of new asphalt this year — 16 miles on Highways D and H, plus 3.5 miles on County Highway YY in partnership with Lincoln County.
Roger showed a five-year comparison indicating significant improvement. Much of the remaining road mileage rated in poor condition (one to four on a 10-point scale) will improve once the D and H projects are officially recorded. He noted the progress is substantial compared to most adjacent counties.
The committee also reviewed data from the Forward Analytics “Green Book,” which shows Price County spends $477 per person annually on its highway system — among the highest rates in Wisconsin. By comparison, Sawyer County spends $218 per person, Taylor County $199, and Iron County $229. Iowa County leads the state at $747 per person.
Committee members noted that per-capita spending can be misleading in rural counties with low populations but extensive road networks. Price County has 451 lane miles of county trunk roads, while more populous counties like Brown County spend far less per person but maintain comparable or larger road networks.
“We have high numbers all the time,” one member said, but added that regional comparisons show Price County’s overall county spending is not the highest in northern Wisconsin.
Mechanic Recruitment Remains Stalled
The committee devoted significant discussion to an ongoing highway mechanic vacancy, with Roger confirming no applications have been received in the past month and a half.
Administrative staff member Sarah presented wage data from seven surrounding counties. Price County’s mechanic pay range is $24.35 to $28.41 per hour — competitive with most neighbors but below counties like Taylor ($26 to $34), Iron ($31.50), and Sawyer ($28). Vilas County offers $25 to $32 for mechanics and employs a separate “mechanist” position requiring a diesel mechanic degree, which carries an additional $2 per hour.
Committee members explored several potential solutions, including a tiered mechanic/technician system, contracting with outside mechanics, and an education reimbursement program similar to those used for emergency medical services training.
Nick, the county’s administrative representative, cautioned against simply raising wages without addressing the broader recruitment challenge. “It’s not county to county, it’s the outside world,” he said, noting that private-sector mechanic jobs may offer higher hourly pay but typically lack the benefits — Wisconsin Retirement System contributions, health insurance, and paid time off — that county employment provides.
The committee discussed a potential education program in which the county would help pay for mechanic certifications while an employee works and trains on the job. Nick suggested this approach could help recruit candidates who are “eager to learn” but lack formal credentials, building long-term retention through growing benefits and tenure.
Roger noted the department also faces technological challenges with newer equipment, particularly diagnosing issues with Kenworth trucks’ DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) systems. The department’s current diagnostic software has communication issues with the Kenworth fleet. “When it comes down to it, the ideal candidate would be very good at that part — the computer part — and good at the components of the new tier system on the diesel,” Roger said.
The committee agreed to continue exploring solutions, with the education and certification assistance approach drawing the most support. The item remained informational.
Drought Conditions Lower Dam Levels
Roger reported that area dams are running 14 to 15 inches below normal levels, with no need for a public drawdown announcement because water is already low. Creeks and rivers across the county have minimal flow.
A request was received seeking DNR flow requirement data for Solberg and other county dams. Roger said he directed staff to coordinate with DNR official Ryan Jarvis on the request.
Airport and Department Updates
At the Price County airport, a single staff member is maintaining operations while the assistant is on medical leave. A potential T-hangar construction project could break ground this fall if funding from the Board of Aviation is secured, though timing remains uncertain.
The highway crew recently completed crack filling on bridge approaches, patching on state and county highways, and 49,000 feet of rock paving. In a collaborative effort with American Asphalt, the department performed 3,000 feet of patch paving on County Highway S using American Asphalt’s paver and three operators alongside county equipment.
Roger also reported that the Wisconsin County Highway Association has merged several committees into a new Tech Advisory and Engineering Standards Committee.
Road Tour Scheduled
The committee set its annual road tour for Wednesday, October 21, beginning at 7 a.m. at the highway shop. The tour, which runs until approximately 3 p.m., is open to all county board members.
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