June 8, 2023 at 1:58 p.m.
Oneida County public works supports resolution urging state to use budget surplus
Resolution requests more money be used to maintain and repair highways
By Trevor Greene-
Oneida County highway commissioner Alex Hegeman said the resolution was brought to his attention by a county supervisor who does not serve on the public works committee.
"We wanted to put it on our agenda ... for the committee to discuss ... and they made a motion to support the resolution," Hegeman told The Lakeland Times. "I think all the committee members were in favor of the state using budgetary surplus for the two programs listed in the resolution."
The GTA program is a grant program through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) for local government's to fund road construction, maintenance and traffic operations.
The LRIP is a reimbursement program, also through the DOT, which assists local governments in "improving seriously deteriorating county highways, town roads and city and village streets."
According to the draft resolution, the additional funding would be used for "the backlog of maintenance on the county trunk highway system."
Gov. Tony Evers and the Legislature recently "devoted" additional GTA and LRIP funding to counties, the draft resolution states, though counties still haven't received that "appropriate financial support to make roads and bridges safe for the speeds and weight of travel experienced through the State."
"Be it further resolved, that a copy of this resolution be sent to Governor Tony Evers, all members of the State Legislature representing Oneida County, the Wisconsin Counties Association, and all other Wisconsin Counties," the draft resolution states.
For the draft resolution to be sent, it would still need approval by way of vote of the full Oneida County board.
Hegeman said he believes Door County passed a similar resolution last month, as well as a "couple others."
"I'm assuming this will probably become more popular throughout the state, where counties are supporting a resolution like this," he said. "Everyone's in the same boat as us; where equipment's costing more, materials are costing more, labor is costing more. And so we're just looking to try and increase the funding to try and maintain our roads and help construct new roads."
Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].
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