build new highway department facilities ….

build new highway department facilities in Loyal, Neillsville and Owen. The Board last year approved an $8 million improvement plan, with the main highway department shop to be relocated to the current garage site in Loyal. Old buildings will be torn down, and some renovated.

The county also plans to spend $350,000 for a new Sheriff’s Department dispatch center, as well as yet undetermined amount on Courthouse boiler repairs.

The money budgeted for highway upgrades will cover the following repaving projects: -- 3.9 miles of County Road A, from County Road E to Badger Avenue.

-- 4 miles of County Road P, from County Road N to State Highway 29.

-- 5.4 miles of County Road Q, from County Road N to Riplinger Road -- 3 miles of County Road N, from County Road Q to Broek Road.

-- 3.9 miles of County Road Y, from State Highway 10 to County Road H.

The county will also chip seal 23 miles of road to lengthen the period between repaving. Those jobs will include 4.5 miles of County Road I, 3.5 miles of County Road Q, 11 miles of County Road M, and four miles of County Road X.

An added expense for the county beginning in 2023 will be the addition of a second circuit court judgeship. The state several years ago approved a second judge for the county based on caseloads, and that new judge will be elected in April and will begin work in August. The state will pay for the judge, but supporting county offices will have to add support staff.

The county Board got its first look at the budget plan at the Oct. 13 meeting. It will meet again on Nov. 10 for formal approval of the plan. The resolutions to shortterm borrow the funds for the highway paving and other expenses must receive three-fourths majority vote for passage.