Pelican to go forward with Haymeadow Road Bridge project

The Pelican town board has been in a pickle … but at its special meeting March 30, there was hope of a way out.

A $133,043 difference between its estimate and total cost to remove and replace the 109-year-old Haymeadow Road Bridge — an overage of more than 20% — has had the board in a difficult place.

Through the Local Bridge program, 100% federal funding was approved for its $627,260 estimate. However, the total cost has come in at approximately $760,303, and the town would be on the hook to pay the difference.

As of the Pelican town board’s March 23 regular monthly meeting, the board was being pressed to give an answer by April 1 on whether to proceed with the project, but felt in limbo while the Wisconsin Department of Transportation was seeking additional funding with the Division of Transportation Investment Management for an 80/20 cost share for the overage. 

At the board’s March 30 special meeting, chairman Nick Scholtes had an update.

“Speaking with Wisconsin Department of Transportation, they said that they are working a different angle now, trying to still get us funding,” he reported. “Last decision that was made was no, they will not fund it. In order for it to be funded, though, it actually has to go to the Transportation Secretary’s desk, because of it being (a difference of) over 20%.

“Now, that being said, I told them that it doesn’t make sense for us not to do the project because we’d have to pay back the federal funds that’s already been spent, and that’s $82,000. We’re past the halfway point of that additional funds. And so they’re still trying to do it.

“In the meantime,” Scholtes continued, “I contacted Oneida County, and I asked if there was any funds available in the Town Bridge Aid program, because that’s always been there in the past. And why I didn’t think of it the first night, I don’t know … (Oneida County finance tech) Jeri (Cooper) said, ‘Yes, there is, get your request in.’ And I told her what had happened. So if we decide to make a motion to go forward and request Town Bridge Aid from the county, we could receive up to 50% of the cost from the county.

“ … So our options are pretty simple … move forward, apply for county bridge aid, and in the meantime, the state is hoping to have an answer back from DTIM by Thursday.”

The board unanimously agreed to continue forward with the Haymeadow Road Bridge, and apply to Oneida County for the county’s Town Bridge Aid for the project.

“Even if it went to the 80/20, the county would pay 50% of the 20%,” observed Scholtes.

The board will meet next at the Town of Pelican annual meeting on Tuesday, April 14, at 7 p.m. in the Pelican Town Hall.

Ardith Carlton may be reached at [email protected].