Council discusses two $1 million requests from Highway Department

Last week, the Marshall County Council members heard the Highway Subcommittee report from member Steve Gorski.  He said himself; Jim Masterson, Brandon Schadek, County Auditor Angie Birchmeier and Commissioner Stan Klotz met with Highway Superintendent Jason Peters and reviewed the draft of the 2025 Road Plan.  They discussed road material usage, such as paving versus chip-and-seal, and their associated costs.   Gorski said, “Seems like everything is expensive and getting more so.” The main focus was on funding. 

To stay on track, long-term, with the county’s road improvement plan and the Highway Department’s budget, it will take an additional $1 million.  Gorski said it is due to limitations proposed by the DLGF (Department of Local Government Finance) based on the Highway Department’s revenues.  Clarifying, he said the DLGF lowered the 2025 budget from the Council’s approval. 

The subcommittee also discussed the potential for an additional request of $1 million to increase miles of road maintenance and improvements, but for the most part, the committee wasn’t in favor of the second million dollars. 

Highway Superintendent Jason Peters has considered different procedures to lower the cost. He said the pre-mix paving has saved a lot of money, and the wrap material the department can make and has been using is an inexpensive material that they’ve been using on roads as well.  Peters said limestone is now $25 to $28 a ton, it adds up fast. 

Council President Tim Harman asked why the committee wasn’t favorable to the second million dollars, and Brandon Schadek said his concern is that they are in the middle of a lawsuit on solar, and what the cost may be. He also said other areas of the county are asking for additional money, which is adding up, besides not knowing the impact of SB1.

Harman said it’s not the road plan or the dollars, but rather the external factors, and Schadek agreed. 

Jim Masterson said, “We are not trying to pull money away from Jason, it’s maintaining everything.  If we want things to be where they are or a little bit better, and we want to make sure it’s totally funded, because without that $1 million to get us through, we would definitely have an issue.”  Masterson recommended looking at the additional million dollars later and see if the money is there, and if we a flush, we can make a determination at that time.” 

Harman said they could do the additional first million and look at the second million in late July or August. 

During Monday’s Commissioner meeting, the commissioners did approve the first million request.

Councilman Will Patterson asked about Community Crossing funds in the future and the fact that Marshall County doesn’t have a wheel tax. 

Councilwoman Nichole Cox said she watched the AIC update, and it appears the grant portion will be the same, but some additional monies will be available based on road miles, and if you don’t have a wheel tax, you won’t be eligible for the additional funds.