Portage County highway committee hears staffing updates, DOT meeting plans and solid-waste relocation

At its March 10 meeting, the Portage County Highway Committee received routine staffing and project updates from staff and commissioners, including a personnel update, plans with the state Department of Transportation, and proposed changes to solid-waste and sheriff’s office facilities.

Under the commissioners report, staff said an accepted offer exists for an open highway labor position and that the new hire is scheduled to start later in March; staff also reported four of five summer helpers are already on board and that applications for certain seasonal roles remain limited. Committee members were told one qualified candidate had applied for the county surgeon position and that interviews are expected soon.

Staff also said the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is planning a local officials meeting regarding Highway 54 at 110th Street (location wording in the transcript is imprecise). DOT was asked to consider adding an acceleration lane for truck movements, but staff said including that work in this year’s Highway 54 project is unlikely.

Committee members heard that the sheriff’s office and solid-waste operations are coordinating site usage; staff described a plan under which solid waste could use outdoor impound space and move some operations inside the highway department’s fenced area, with relocation costs to be charged to solid waste. The chair indicated this shift will appear as a future agenda item.

Committee scheduling: members selected April 14 at 03:30 for the next regular meeting with options to participate remotely. A member asked for clarification about an outgoing board term; the chair clarified the term runs through 5:02 p.m. on March 23, when swearing-in occurs.

Next steps: staff will follow up on DOT scheduling, finalize arrangements for any facility changes with solid waste and the sheriff’s office, and prepare capital-improvement items for the April meeting.