Attendee Information
The WCHA Conference Coordinating Committee will host their Winter Road School (Highway Conference) January 14-16, 2019 at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

Highway Commissioners/Public Works Directors & Office Managers/Committee Members/ State Officials/Corporate Sponsors/Associate Members are all encouraged to attend this event.

See the 2019 WCHA Winter Road School tentative agenda here.

Room Blocks
We do have room blocks available at the host hotel. Hotel room reservation deadline date is December 12, 2018. Please contact the reservation department at (855) 582-2905 for reservations. The booking ID number is G43293. The room block is listed under WCHA (Wisconsin County Highway Association).

Vendor Registration and Trade Show Sponsorship Information
The 2019 WCHA Winter Road School is anticipated to have over 500 in attendance, which will be comprised of Highway Commissioners/Public Works Directors/Highway Committee Officials/State Officials/Corporate Sponsors and Associate Members.

To help make the 2019 WCHA Road School a success, we are welcoming your corporate participation. The association is offering multiple areas for your participation in various conference activities. There are a number of options including indoor exhibit areas/booths, hospitality rooms, sponsorship of coffee/soda breaks, meal programs, etc. You may review the participation choices on the attached form.

This is an excellent opportunity to promote any current or new products, equipment and services offered by your organization. Your sponsorship(s) will be acknowledged by signage displayed at your events.

To learn more and to register to be a vendor or sponsor of the 2019 WCHA Winter Road School, click here.

WCHA Executive Director Dan Fedderly appeared in an August 28, 2018 Capital Times story, “Wisconsin DOT Report Shows Total Transportation Funding has Fallen Under Scott Walker.”

Below is an excerpt from the article.  Read the full article from the August 28, 2018 Capital Times here.

“The Wisconsin Department of Transportation reports that total funding across all state transportation programs has fallen since Gov. Scott Walker took office in 2011, despite statements Walker has made insisting he has made historic investments.

Even with an increase for local roads in Walker’s latest budget, the DOT’s report shows that the administration has “kicked the can down the road” on a long-term transportation funding solution, said Dan Fedderly, executive director of the Wisconsin County Highway Association, who has worked on local transportation issues for more than 30 years.

“……There’s no question, and I said it multiple times … in relationship to transportation funding at the local level you don’t have to look at the reports. It isn’t a complicated issue. You just have to be out in the field looking at what’s happening,” Fedderly said. “The funding at the local level has not kept pace with the demand and needs of the local system by any stretch.

You don’t solve a transportation dilemma that you created over multiple years in one budget cycle … the whole discussion sums up the failure of the Legislature and the administration to address a long-term sustainable funding source for transportation in Wisconsin,” he said.”

Representatives from the Wisconsin County Highway Association joined the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin (TDA) Fly-In May 22-24, 2018 in Washington, DC.  This year the TDA Fly-In was a joint effort with the Minnesota Transportation Alliance.

The event kicked off May 22, 2018 at the National Association of Counties (NACo)/NLC Learning Center at 660 North Capitol Street NW.

Speakers included:

• James Ray, Special Advisor to the Secretary for Infrastructure, U.S. Department of Transportation
• Daria Daniel, Associate Legislative Director-Community Economic & Workforce Development, National Association of Counties (NACo)
• Carolyn Kramer, Director, Transportation Investment Advocacy Center
• Stephen Buckley, NE Regional Manager, Planning, Environment and Traffic Practice, WPS

Thursday, May 23 began with a breakfast featuring Representative Gallagher and Randy Gordon of National Grain and Feed Association.

Scheduled visits on May 23 included the offices of Senators Baldwin and Johnson, as well as Representatives Duffy, Grothman, Kind, Moore, Pocan Ryan and Sensenbrenner.

“The TDA Fly-In is always an incredibly worthwhile visit to Washington, DC, as it’s filled with briefings, as well as opportunities to meet with our Wisconsin federal delegation to discuss timely transportation issues,” said WCHA Executive Director Dan Fedderly.  “This year’s event with Minnesota allowed us to have a regional approach and discussions with how things work in other states.”

WCHA will host their 2018 Summer Conference June 4, 5, 6, 2018 at Chula Vista in Wisconsin Dells.

See the vendor booth and sponsorship info for the 2018 WCHA Summer Highway Conference here.

View the latest agenda for the WCHA Summer Highway Conference here.

Seal Coat Best Management Practices
Seal coating asphalt pavement is widely accepted and is considered a very effective maintenance activity for the preservation of good asphalt surfaces. Choosing the right sections of pavement is where it all begins.

Project Selection
It is recommended that a seal coat application be applied to pavements that meet the following criteria:
• PASER rating of 5 or better
• Cross culverts inspected and replaced as necessary
• Recently crack filled (12months or less)
• Failed pavement areas have been excavated and base patched
• Minor ruts or depressions have been wedged with hot mix asphalt (HMA)
• Gravel shoulders have been recently graded to standards

See the Entire Seal Coat Best Management Practices Document here.

The National Association of County Engineers and the Wisconsin County Highway Association held a successful NACE 2018 Annual Meeting/Management & Technical Conference April 22-26, 2018 in Wisconsin Dells.  See photos from the event here.

“As the largest gathering of infrastructure professionals nationwide, we were proud to host the NACE Annual Meeting/Management & Technical Conference here in Wisconsin,” said WCHA Executive Director Daniel Fedderly.  “The four days were packed with educational sessions, innovative product displays and networking opportunities. It was great to showcase our beautiful state and lead discussions with national leaders in the industry.”

The event included:

• Over 400 County Road Officials
• Over 100 Exhibits at the Expo
• Over 75 Presentations
• Over 14 Networking Opportunities
• Over 12 Professional Development Hours

View more information about the NACE 2018 Annual Meeting/Management & Technical Conference website here.

The April 2018 Wisconsin Counties magazine features Wisconsin county highway departments and takes a comprehensive look at the work they do.

“We were excited to work with the Wisconsin Counties Association on this issue to highlight all the work county departments are doing around the state year-round,” said WCHA Executive Director Dan Fedderly.  “It’s a great edition of the publication and we commend the Association for their work in putting the spotlight on our county highway folks.”

Featured articles in the magazine include:

• The Wisconsin County Highway Department: by WCHA Executive Director Dan Fedderly
• This is How County Highway Departments Save Lives: by Wisconsin Transportation Information Center Director Benjamin J. Jordan
• Changing of the Seasons in County Highway Departments: Price County Highway Commissioner Don Grande
• Finding Efficiencies and Reducing Costs: WCA Government Affairs Association and WCHA Liaison Dan Bahr
• The Growing Role of Salt Brines: WisDOT Secretary Dave Ross
• Sheboygan County Makes Investments in Transportation Infrastructure: Sheboygan County Transportation Director Greg Schnell
• Working Together Spells Success for Transportation: TDA Executive Director Craig Thompson

In addition, county highway commissioners from around Wisconsin are quoted throughout the magazine, answering WCA survey questions such as “What is the most important thing the county highway department performs?”

The Wisconsin Counties Association plans to promote the work of Wisconsin county highway departments throughout the month of April.  You can view the entire magazine electronically here.

Attendee Information
The WCHA Conference Coordinating Committee held their Winter Road School (Highway Conference) January 15-17, 2018 at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

Highway Commissioners/Public Works Directors & Office Managers/Committee Members/ State Officials/Corporate Sponsors/Associate Members attended this event.

Presentations from the 2018 Winter Road School are now online, members please access them by visiting the Member Site.

2018 Winter Road School Additional Agendas

• WCHA Executive Committee Agenda for 1.15.18
• WCHA “New” Commissioners Session Agenda for 1.15.18
• WCHA CHAPPS Agenda for 1.15.18
• WCHA Committee Chairs Agenda for 1.15.18
• WCHA Board Agenda for 1.16.18
• WCHA Bridge Committee Agenda 1.16.2018
• WCHA Utility Committee Agenda 1.16.2018
• WCHA Business Meeting Agenda for 1.17.18
• WCHA Joint Legislative Committee Agenda for 1.16.18

The WCHA Professional Development and Leadership Conference will begin on Monday, December 4th and formally end on Tuesday, December 5th at the Jefferson Street Inn in Wausau. A breakfast buffet will be provided on Tuesday for all registered attendee’s.

The conference is for highway committee members, commissioners, engineers and superintendents that want to improve their professional development and leadership skills.

Please make your own room reservation by referencing the Wisconsin County Highway Association. The block will be reserved until November 5th. Single room rates are $82 and will be the responsibility of each County. The number for reservations is 715-845-6500. The fax number is 715-845-3133.

For additional information and to register for the WCHA Professional Development & Leadership Conference, click here.

The WCHA-LDG Conference Coordinating Committee/Green Lake/Marquette Counties hosted the 2017 Annual Road School September 11-14, 2017 in Wisconsin Dells.

View presentations from the event here.

Questions:
Gary L. Kennedy
WCHA Professional Development Director 1355 North 16th Street
Manitowoc, WI 54220
Cell Phone (920) 323-6500
E-mail: hwygary@ameritech.net