Prescott City Administrator Matt Wolf reviewed the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s requested financial and maintenance agreements for the STH 35 and USH 10 projects with the Prescott City Council at the Jan. 22 regular meeting. The existing highway pavement sections are in need of repair for both state long truck routes. Under the current plan, the DOT would begin the project in 2029 with the total cost share for both projects projected at $238,000.

The City of Prescott currently maintains 31.4 miles of road and this project would add an additional 2.5 miles of road but with a price tag.

 “They are proposing that if we sign this that we would include maintenance of all ways outside of the travel ways,” Wolf said.

The city would take over all maintenance for the 2.5 miles stretch of road, including curb and gutter, parking lanes, drainage facilities, sidewalks and multiuse walking paths, modular block retaining walls, pedestrian refuge islands and landscaping features.

Wolf explained there is no financial compensation for that maintenance and no additional manpower. “We’re basically taking on the addition of 2.5 miles of road which would increase our road maintenance by about 8% in one year without any additional revenue. This is one thing that Mike and I have really struggled with, and I think overall just how we would take on this amount of additional responsibility,” he said.

He further explained the city would be responsible for the street sweeping and landscaping maintenance along with paying for any curb and gutter replacements that come up.

“The one thing to keep in mind is that these agreements do not take effect until these projects happen, so if we sign these maintenance agreements and financial agreements it’s still not looking likely to happen until 2029 at the earliest,” he said.

Alderperson Bailey Ruona said if the council doesn’t sign the maintenance agreements, then the “extras that we want them to do” won’t get done.

“The sidewalk up State Highway 35 and then the sidewalk along State Highway 29 would both be removed since they need maintenance agreements before they’re willing to put in sidewalks and additional items,” said Wolf.

“And then to try and do that later on, I think everybody knows it’s hard to get any type of project scope where you want to go add that after that,” Ruona interjected.

“Which again feels like something just this side of extortion. The maintenance agreement says may come to this agreement or you join it. It doesn’t appear to be a law but Mike asked somebody when they were here if we don’t do that what’s going to happen and they said, ‘Well, we’ll get it one way or another,’” said Alderperson Pat Knox.

“Basically, they would withhold state highway aid,” Ruona stated. “Just like when it comes to property tax. If you don’t have your property tax you’re not getting. So basically, that tells you how much power your city council really has. They’re going to leverage you into doing whatever they want from the state level.”

Alderperson Maureen Otwell mentioned she, along with Knox, reached out to Sen. Ron Johnson and Rep. Warren Petryk about this issue and she didn’t hear anything back. Knox said he received a reply from Petryk who put Knox in touch with one of his assistants and a phone call from the office of Sen. Jeff Smith, who told him Smith is reviewing it and will reach out.

“Just as a reminder, voting is in April,” Ruona spoke up. “I’m a little sassy about this one because it’s like we’re trying to basically work with them. We’ve tried to come up with better options for the design. We’ve tried to partner with Cedar Corp. We’ve tried a different number of ways to do this and just for awareness, if it’s happening to us, it’s happening to other cities. So basically, you’re kind of being held hostage a little bit. So, either sign this, be responsible for all of it, we’re going to advertise basically that we’re cutting budgets and the DOT stuff, but really, you’re pushing it back to the local taxpayers which is to me you’re not cutting at that rate. You’re kind of passing the buck. So again, voting is in April.”

Ruona recommended reaching out to outstate representatives because, “It’s just not sustainable. I mean, for small towns like us, we can’t take on a highway.”

Otwell asked if there is something the council can do to push the issue forward instead of trying individual efforts. Ruona mentioned collaborating with other cities that have similar issues. Alderperson Dar Hintz recommended meeting with both Petryk and Smith.

“I think we are in a pretty unique case in the fact that we are kind of right on a wedge, in the fact that we have so many miles of state highway because we have a bridge that goes into our community that’s very vital to the transfer of people back and forth between state lines,” Wolf said.

The bridge brings a high amount of traffic into town, which also splits and goes north and south in the community. Wolf explained the project was pushed back until 2029 in terms of their budgeting for the project. 

Parks Improvement Fund

Wolf spoke on the Parks Improvement Fund, created in February 2023. In 2002, the council created a parks escrow budget line item for parks maintenance and improvements/ Wolf explained that $44,000 was budgeted and currently there is $12,584 left. Of that, $11,874 was proposed to be transferred to the Parks Improvement Fund to leave the Parks Budget net neutral.

Wolf said the transferred funds would be used for maintenance and upkeep and for future parks projects.

With no discussion, the council approved the transfer of unused parks upkeep funds totaling $11,874 from the general fund to the Parks Improvement Fund. 

Other business

The council approved a preliminary resolution declaring intent to levy special assessments under police powers to begin the Elm and Washington streets projects. The city will hold a public hearing at the Feb. 12 meeting so residents can be heard regarding the preliminary findings.

The council also unanimously approved a budget amendment to use contingent and reserve funds to cover the 2023 underbudgeted funds.

The Plan Commission will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 5.

The Personnel Committee meets at 5 p.m. Feb. 7.

The Parks & Public Works Committee convenes at 5 p.m. Feb. 19.

The Health & Safety Committee will meet at 5 p.m. March 11.