Local Citizens Want To See Dodge County Road II Fixed

(Juneau) The highway commissioner gave an update to the Dodge County Board this week on upcoming road construction projects after residents raised concerns over the state of County Road II. During a Highway Committee meeting earlier this month, a number of citizens voiced their issues with the stretch of road and the fact that it has not been reconstructed in 50 years. Construction is currently slated for 2024, with four miles of work planned.

A petition with over 120 signatures was presented to the county board at their meeting Tuesday, with a few of those who live near the roadway expressing their desire to see it fixed immediately. Noting that it is in dire need of replacement.

The 540-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 the county has historically come short of that goal.

Just over 21 miles is scheduled for repair this year while 23.4 miles is on the docket in 2024. Field says lately the highway department has been well funded, but the biggest hurdle in maintaining its yearly road repair goal is sustainable money.

“Money is the cure,” says Field. “We can do this and more. It’s about funding, it’s about sustainable funding which we don’t have. But right now there is money available and we’re out there gathering all we can.”

Supervisor Cathy Houchin floated the idea of using American Rescue Plan Act dollars to catch up on needed road repairs, which she admitted is not a permanent fix but could allow the county enough time to come up with a valid plan for the future. Houchin added that the highway department has not been transparent with the use of its money.

“In the past few months the highway commissioner and the highway committee chair approved upgraded seats for their comfort…but what about the comfort of our citizens as they drive over these roads and struggle to pay their bills,” says Houchin. “The board voted to buy patrol trucks for the highway [department] yet some of the designated money went for a different purchase without coming to the board. Are they still looking for trucks and where will the money come from?”

Supervisor Lisa Derr disagreed and credited Field for his transparency as well providing detailed information to the board. She also noted that the county board voted down borrowing for road repairs on three separate occasions last year at record low interest rates.