problem is in an underlying layer. Before you do any road improvement, locate the cause of any surface problems. Choose an improvement technique that will address the problem. This may mean recycling or removing all road materials down to the native soil and rebuilding everything. Doing any work that doesn’t solve the problem is a waste of money and effort.
This means: • adequate ditches that can be cleaned regularly • culverts that are marked for easy locating in the spring • enough space for snow after it is plowed off the road • proper cross slopes for safety, maintenance and to avoid snow drifts • roadsides that are planted or treated to prevent erosion • roadsides that can be mowed safely
,,,, FREE PRESS ,,,, ,,,, ,,,, MESSENGER AMERY
9 Protect your investment
A rule of thumb for adequate road width is to make it wide enough for a snowplow to pass another vehicle without leaving the travelled way.
The road system can be your municipality’s biggest investment. Just as a home needs painting or a new roof, a road must be maintained. Wisconsin’s severe climate more road maintenance than in milder places. THURSDAY,requires SEPTEMBER 33, 2222 Do these important maintenance activities: VOL.131 134 NO. NO.1917 www.theameryfreepress.com VOL. www.moraminn.com $1.00 $1.50 Surface — grade, shape, patch, seal cracks, control dust, remove snow and ice Drainage — clean and repair ditches and culverts; remove all excess material Roadside — cut brush, trim trees and roadside plantings, control erosion Traffic service — clean and repair or replace signs
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2025
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK: Meet and thank your local Firefighters P10
Finding the funds: stretching road dollars COUNTRY Mark culverts with a post so they can be located easily.
7
BY TOM STANGL TSTANGL@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
Final in a series Road ratings from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) show that road quality is declining in the area. With limited funds, leaders are looking to maximize the money they have available. Polk County Highway Commissioner Josh Kelch continues to work with the
Serving Marine-on-St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
SENTINEL
City backs housing measures in the Assembly
BURNETT COUNTY
FREE
BY TOM STANGL TSTANGL@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
With the city’s newest subdivision, Sun-
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 33,with 2222 a ribbon cutting dance Place, opening
VOL. 131next NO. 19Monday, www.moraminn.com $1.00 the Amery City Council is backing legislation designed to help ease the housing crisis. The council will send letters of support for three housing measures that are currently before the Wisconsin Assembly. The council is supporting a measure to require areas with zoning to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit (sometimes called a “granny flat” or backyard cottage) on a lot with a single-family home, a measure to create a $60,000 interest-free loan for new homeowners who meet income guidelines and a proposal for changes to the commercial building codes. City Administrator Alex Mansfield presented brief overviews of the bills. They are:
COUNTY ST R FREE
ISANTI-CHISAGO
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statewide,” Kelch said. “So that's really $2.1 million construction budget that Pave only when ready where we're trying to gain on some of has been in place since 2016. Kelch is It isthis not necessary to paveprojects, all your roads immediately. with extra but they're not working to leverage programs to get There is nothing wrong with a well-built and wellfree.” gravel road if traffic loads and volume do more work done for the same amount of maintained PolkaCounty is applying forvehicles grants money. not require paved surface. Three hundred per the recommended minimum to justify paving. funding, which is provided One of the programs Kelch is using is daytois secure Don’t assume that laying down asphalt will fix a gravel onthat anis 80-20 the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure road failing. split—meaning Before you pave, makethe sure fedyou have THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 33, 2222 eral government covers 80 percent of Law, referred to by its acronym BIL, an adequate crushed stone base that drains well and is Design roads with adequate ditches so they can be properly compacted. The the recommended depth VOL. www.moraminn.com the project, and countyminimum covers 20131 NO. 19 WISDOT passed in 2021. maintained with a motor $1.00 grader. Clean and grade ditches of crushed stone base is 10" depending on subgrade soils. to maintain proper pitch and peak efficiency. After grading, percent. Kelch says the projects need “We've been able to utilize some of The Department of Transportation advises A road paved only when it is ready will far outperform remove all excess material from the shoulder. one that is constructed too quickly. that in Polk County, as some of our designing roads so ditches can be maintained neighboring counties have also done so with a motor grader for adequate drainage. SEE ROADS, PAGE 9
AB 449 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS (ADUS) What it would do: Require cities, villages, and towns with zoning to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit (sometimes called a “granny flat” or backyard cottage) on a lot with a single-family home. The statewide framework outlines when and how ADUs can be added; proposals discussed by sponsors would ban newly built ADUs from being used as short-term rentals. Why it matters: Aims to gently increase housing in existing neighborhoods without large new subdivisions — a tool many communities use to create downsized options for seniors and more starter rentals. Where it stands: Introduced Sept.
FILE PHOTO
The Amery Fire Department’s airboat in action in 2017. The airboat has had mechanical issues and the boat is in the shop now.
Ailing Amery airboat back in the shop
THE SUN BY TOM STANGL TSTANGL@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
Amery Fire Chief Chuck Frohn hopes that a new mechanic can fix the department’s airboat so it runs properly. The boat, purchased in 2017 for $99,994, had its motor replaced in
2024, and the new motor has also experienced issues. Frohn took the boat to Wheeler Racing Engines in Zimmerman, Minnesota. The mechanic who examined the engine said the company that worked on it really messed it up. “I can’t say here what he really said,” Frohn said.
The mechanic said he planned to remove the fuel tank and install the fuel pump inside it. He mentioned that it looked like an electronic fuel ignition pump was also being used as an oil cooler. “He said, ‘What are they doing?’” SEE AIRBOAT, PAGE 2
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897 715-268-2103
SEE HOUSING, PAGE 20
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 33, 2222
VOL. 131 NO. 19 www.moraminn.com $1.00
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