Dodge County Board Again Votes Down Road Borrowing

(Juneau) The Dodge County Board Wednesday night voted for a second time against borrowing for road repairs but not due to a lack of support. A resolution to borrow over $9-million-dollars to upgrade roughly 25-miles of roadway was shot down by the board last month. At that meeting the vote was 23 in favor and five against. The resolution required three-fourths majority of the 33-member board to pass. Five supervisors were absent which is tallied as a “no” vote. 

Another resolution was brought forth Wednesday night, this time asking to borrow $4.6-million-dollars to fix 16-miles. Again, the board failed to reach a three-fourth’s majority – falling just two votes short. Only three board members voted no while 23 said yes; this time seven supervisors were absent.  

Supervisor Jeff Caine, a member of the county’s Highway Committee, says the reduced borrowing amount was suggested as a good faith effort to get support from the board. Before the vote, Caine asked his fellow board members to get behind the resolution so a reasonable effort could be made to improve 16-miles of roadway.  

Supervisor Dan Siegmann, who voted against the resolution, says his constituents do not want to borrow for road repairs. He says the individuals who reached out to him are against this in principle and want nothing added to their property taxes. Opponents of the resolution also argue that the funds should be found in-house rather than borrowed from outside sources.  

Supervisor Lisa Derr says the roads need to be addressed. She says her constituents want better and they are tired of the roads in their current condition. 

The 450-mile county highway system is on a 25-year pavement life cycle. Dodge County Highway Commissioner Brian Field says 22-miles of roadway should be repaired a year but notes the county has historically come short of that goal. The board did approve borrowing $9-million for roads in 2021.