Kewaunee County Highway Department pitches facility improvements

You could soon see lots of improvements taking place near the intersection of County Highways C and F in the City of Kewaunee. The Kewaunee Board of Supervisors unanimously approved efforts by community members to raise funds to build an all-inclusive playground at Bruemmer Park. In addition to private donations being sought by the Bruemmer Park Inclusive Playground Group, Kewaunee County Administrator Scott Feldt said they would be seeking grants to help build the playground and set up an endowment for the project moving forward.

More questions were asked of Kewaunee County Highway Commissioner Todd Every, who pushed for improvements to be made at its main highway shop across the street from Bruemmer Park. Every pointed out the age and size of the 1930s-era facility as the reason for the upgrades. The county spent approximately $28,000 for a pair of studies to look into what improvements are needed. A complete overhaul of the facility, which would include the replacement of several buildings, carries a price tag of $26 million. A phased-in approach, which would tackle the essential projects first, would be about $10.5 million. Supervisors questioned the cost of the upgrades as they have a decision about a new public safety building lurking in the future. Every and Kewaunee County Administrator Scott Feldt said not enough was done to maintain the building.

The department’s other facilities in Algoma, Stangelville, and on Hillside Road near Casco were not considered in the study, but Every says improvements have been made at those sites over the years and are in good shape. The agenda item concerning the highway department upgrades was informational only, so no action was taken. Chairperson Dan Olson asked the county’s highway committee to work with Every to work on specifics.

Video and picture courtesy of Kewaunee County