As Winneshiek County's road budget tightens, maintenance is deferred

Winneshiek County is facing an extremely tight road budget this year.  That means some things the County Engineering Department did in past years are not being done this year.

County Engineer Lee Bjerke says Winneshiek County has cut back on mowing to save money.  Historically, the county would hire summer employees to run four mowers.  But Bjerke says the county decided to not hire any summer help at all this year (mower operators, spray patcher, bridge crew, sign crew, survey crew).  That means any mowing is being performed by the county's full time road crew.  Says Bjerke, "Obviously the full time crews have other work that they must prioritize and thus we are not getting near the mowing (or anything else for that matter) done that we have in past years."

Bjerke says the road fund "is at a critically low level for everyone."  Continues Bjerke, "You hear talk about making tough choices when times are hard; we are doing it.  Mowing is a simple thing to help save money, the uglier ones are out there too and you are seeing them as well.  Poor condition pavements, gravel roads with mud in them, bridges that are closed and have been for years, the list is getting longer every day."

Iowa's Road Use Tax Fund is funded primarily with fuel tax.  Some state lawmakers have proposed increasing the fuel tax, but Governor Chet Culver has threatened to veto any such legislation.   The Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors have joined with other county boards throughout Iowa in calling on the state legislature to pass a gas tax increase.

Concludes Bjerke, "If people want to see improvements in the roads they should contact their Senators, Representatives and the Governor and let them know "it's time for a dime (increase in the gas tax)."