As part of its capital improvements program, the 2014 Waupaca County budget includes a proposed highway construction project for County Road O, from State Highway 22 to Dennison Road. (1.0 miles) (2014 design)

“This project involves the reconstruction of a section of rural highway being planned for future haul route for proposed sand mine with the financial cooperation of operator,” according to the budget document. In 2014, the county plans to spend $47,874 for design work on about one mile of road.

If you look at the highway department website you will see all the projects listed for the Five Year Capital Improvement Program (2013-2017) and there is no mention of the County O project.

If you look through the highway departments agendas and minutes, you can’t find County O mentioned until a month ago, on Oct. 4.

How did this get so quickly in the budget and just what does the “financial cooperation of operator” mean.

Just a reminder: Why is this sand mine getting special attention (including road reconstruction) when it isn’t a done deal yet and the appeal is months away.

Tania Wadzinski

Manawa