DOT official getting heat for letting weeds grow along highways

Talk about it

A state transportation official says he’s getting more heat from communities for letting the weeds grow on certain state highways.

Dave Vieth says he understands the concern.

But the Department of Transportation’s highway operations director says it’s unfortunate the issue has gotten so much attention, while there are other needs which are not as obvious.

The DOT has gotten flack ever since it told county highway departments it would not reimburse them for more than one mowing a year on state highways unless it’s needed for safety reasons.

This week, the Grand Chute Town Board near Appleton passed a resolution which threatened to bill the state for a public nuisance.

And Outagamie County Supervisor Jim Duncan says he’ll ask his panel to push for a return of the state funding.

Racine County has used work-release prisoners to mow on medians the state no longer pays for.

And Duncan says he’ll ask his fellow supervisors in the Appleton area to consider using their inmates for the same purpose plus removing dead animals from road-sides, and shoveling snow around fire hydrants.

Outagamie County Supervisor Dave Schowalter cut grass on a median with his own lawnmower last month.

And he favors the billing the state when the weeds exceed local limits. He says it’s only fair for the town to treat the state the way it treats local home and business owners who must observe local weed laws.

Vieth says the DOT has not received any local bills or fines yet.

Tags: wisconsin, dot, highway, weeds