Present: A. Dixon, G. Golat, G. Dusell, R. Svoma

Rusk County Highway Committee February 19, 2007

Present: A. Dixon, G. Golat, G. DuSell, R. Svoma.

Absent: J. Hofacker.

Also Present: E. Wundrow, N. Mertes, P. Montwill, B. Nelson Chair for Town of Willard, Phil Snyder Supervisor for Village of Sheldon and Rusk County Board, Joe Lorence Chair for the Town of Marshall.

Highway Chair Dixon called meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.

APPROVE AGENDA A Golat/DuSell motion to approve today’s agenda. Motion Passed.

APPROVE MINUTES A DuSell/Svoma motion to approve the following minutes: January 15, 2007, January 18, 2007, and January 26, 2007. Motion Passed.

APPEARANCE BY PHIL SNYDER, VILLAGE OF SHELDON, REGARDING CTH “D” EAST CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS AND RESOLUTION SUBMITTED TO THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT. P. Snyder submitted a resolution requesting the following:

Whereas The Sheldon Area will improve economically and in many other ways with an improved CTH “D” (old 194) and, Whereas the money is at present sitting in the county’s care while at the same time losing value due to rising costs and, Whereas it is only 8 miles from the 12-mile corner on Hwy 27 to Sheldon and other route options are: Using Hwy “M” through Chippewa County Using Broken Arrow (not a legal truck route) Using County “I” and “G” Whereas there are no other county roads with funding “in hand” that are in worse need of repair, Now Therefore be it resolved that the Rusk County Board instruct the Rusk County Highway Department to make County “D” (old 194) the primary project for 2007 and that no other projects shall begin until it is completed.

Discussion followed. A. Dixon feels that the resolution is not necessary because the Highway Department is on schedule. The CTH “G” project, being a federally funded STP project, will take priority in the 2007 construction season in order to secure funding. The Highway Commissioner explained that sections of CTH “D” construction are currently on hold pending land acquisition issues, which the Engineers are currently working on. Further, Town, Village and County projects must still proceed ahead in the 2007 construction season. In order to accomplish a very busy construction season in 2007 the Highway Department will need to coordinate and balance scheduling of all county projects including CTH “D” east allowing proper time for land acquisition, Federal funding, bridge projects, and culvert issues in order to bring each project to completion. Because CTH “D” only has its first layer of blacktop the Highway Department will have to post CTH “D” during Spring breakup in order to protect the roadway until the final layer of blacktop is put down this construction season. Posting will be at 20 tons/4 axles. The Highway Department shall notify Phil Snyder of the anticipated date the Spring breakup will occur.

1 DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE MOTION REGARDING RUSK COUNTY BRIDGES AND BRIDGE POSTINGS. POSSIBLE MOTION. The Highway Commissioner explained that he has received the results of the Bridge – Act 167 Load Posting Evaluation from MSA Engineers on Friday, February 16, 2007, and as a result of the evaluation he was able to un-post 13 of the County bridges.

UPDATE REGARDING ENBRIDGE CORPORATION, AND ITS AFFILIATES, AS TO STATUS OF MUTLITPLE TRIP/SINGLE TRIP PERMITS FOR RUSK COUNTY HIGHWAYS. POSSIBLE MOTION. Michels Pipline, a sub-contractor for Enbridge, paid a blanket overload/overweight permit fee to the Highway Department of $15,000.00. This permit will terminate as of the first day of the Spring breakup in 2007 announced by the Rusk County Highway Commissioner. The Highway Commissioner explained that Enbridge wants to continue using the county highways during the Spring breakup so the Highway Department, exercising their authority per State Stats 348.25, will require Enbridge to pay $117,000.00 per mile of county highway needed during Spring breakup. The Highway Committee reviewed a copy of the letter mailed to Enbridge outlining the requirements of Enbridge to acquire a Multiple Trip permit during Spring breakup from the Highway Department. Discussion followed. Mr. J. Sager, the Northern Region Spill Coordinator for Wisconsin, joined today’s meeting via speakerphone to discuss the impact of the Enbridge oil spill in Rusk County. It was found that the petroleum from the oil spill had begun to contaminate the ground water in the Town of Murry where the oil spill occurred. Enbridge is now working on installing groundwater-monitoring devices to monitor the extent of the contamination. Mr. Sager will be forwarding a fax to the Highway Department as to the current status of the oil spill and the steps Enbridge is taking in accordance with Wisconsin Oil Spill Laws in order to correct the impact of the oil spill and ensure safety of drinking water in the area of the oil spill.

RESOLUTION APPROVAL – WISCONSIN COUNTY HIGHWAY ASSOCIATION SUPPORTING NATIONAL WORK ZONE AWARENESS WEEK. N. Mertes passed out a copy of a Resolution supporting national work zone awareness week for the Committee to review. The Highway Commissioner requested that this resolution be approved and presented to the County Board for approval. A Svoma/Golat motion to approve this resolution and send to County Board for approval.

AUTHORIZATION TO LET FOR BID THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: WASTE OIL, AC OIL, CULVERTS. A Golat/DuSell motion to authorize the letting of bids for Highway Department purchase of Waste Oil, AC Oil, and Culverts. Motion Passed.

DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE MOTION REGARDING HIGHWAY BACKHOE. REVIEW REPLACEMENT QUOTES SUBMITTED TO THE HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER. The Highway Commissioner reviewed the following quotes for a new 2006 Back Hoe. Nor-Trax Quote - $173,859.00 for 2006 John Deere Back Hoe Airing Equipment Quote - $167,967.00 for 2006 Volvo Back Hoe Fabco Quote - $187,049.00 for 2006 Cat Back Hoe S. Gudis, Highway Construction Foreman, joined the Highway Committee; discussion on Back Hoe’s followed. A Golat/Svoma motion to authorize the Highway Commissioner to negotiate with Fabco for the Cat Back Hoe, not to exceed $187,049.00.

DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE MOTION REGARDING PURCHASEOF A RUBBER TIRE ROLLER. The Highway Commissioner explained the need for a new Rubber Tire Roller, pull behind model, and that Barron County will also be purchasing a Rubber Tire Roller, pull behind

2 model, this year; Rusk County and Barron County could team together to try to get a discount price for two Roller’s. A DuSell/Golat motion to authorize the Commissioner to work with Barron County to acquire a discount price on a new Rubber Tire Roller and to bring the information back to the Highway Committee for review. Motion Passed.

SIGN STATE TMA’S FOR 2007. The Highway Committee signed 2007 TMA #0054-78-20 with an $8000.00 budget (above normal maintenance signing on State Highways) to sign miscellaneous State Highway’s in Rusk County.

AUTHORIZATION FOR OUT OF COUNTY REQUESTS: NACE CONFERENCE – HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER, PASER AND WISLR WORKSHOP 2007 – PATROL SUPERINTENDENT. A Svoma/DuSell motion to authorize the Highway Commissioner to attend the NACE Conference in Milwaukee April 22, 2007 to April 26, 2007. Motion Passed. A Golat/DuSell motion to authorize P. Montwill to attend the Paser and WISLR Workshop in Hayward on February 28, 2007. Motion Passed.

HIGHWAY FINANCIAL REPORT. N. Mertes passed out the current Highway Department Accounts Receivable Report and the current Cash Balance Report for Committee review. A Svoma/Golat motion to approve the Highway Financial Report. Motion Passed.

HIGHWAY OFFICE REPORT. N. Mertes reviewed the status of the Highway 2006 closing and current open insurance claims.

JAMES ARMSTRONG – DRIVEWAY PERMIT EASEMENT REQUEST. POSSIBLE MOTION. A Golat/Svoma motion to send issue of easement to Corporate Council for direction and to bring back to the Highway Committee at their March 2007 regular meeting. Motion Passed.

ACTION ON MONTHLY VOUCHER’S None presented.

SIGN PRE-PAID VOUCHERS. Pre-paid vouchers in the amount of $223,871.84 were presented to the Highway Committee for review and signature. A DuSell/Svoma motion to approve the pre-signed vouchers for $223,871.84. Motion Passed.

SET DATE FOR NEXT HIGHWAY COMMITTEE MEETING. The next regular Highway Committee meeting is scheduled for March 19, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. at the Rusk County Highway Department.

MOTION TO ADJOURN. A Svoma/Golat motion to adjourn. Motion Passed.

Meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m.

Prepared by N. Mertes Distributed on February 21, 2007