McMillan has over 53 miles of townroads of which about 13 miles have been blacktopped. In addition chip sealing has been used on other roads mostly in subdivisions. (Chip seal is a mixture of crushed blacktop, small stones, and a sealer.) State Highway 97 traverses the town progressing northeast from Marshfield and then north through the town to Stratford. County Highways T and E run north and south through the town and County Highway C crosses east and west through the northern part of McMillan.

The township has one full time and one part time highway department employee.   

Road Construction and Maintenance

Each year the town board reviews every road in McMillan. A tentative road maintenance and upgrade schedule for the next ten years was established in 2004. This is a very fluid process but does give the board an overview of potential needs and timelines for various parts of the town. This schedule will be greatly impacted by the economy, increased costs of construction, other needs within the town, and funds available.

The board’s criteria, used to establish a schedule for hard surfacing of roads, involves public safety, road maintenance costs, traffic volume, growth and development, cost of a project and availability of funds.

These procedures will generally be followed when the town proceeds in reconstructing a roadway. When the board determines that a certain roadway will be reconstructed, a letter will be sent to residents alone this road. A survey will be done identifying property lines. Then, a special meeting will be held to explain the town’s plans and the location of the road and ditches. The residents will then be given a tentative time line. The limited funds available will most likely dictate that construction of the road bed will be done one season and the hard surface may be appliedone or two years later. While this is frustrating and inconvenient for area residents, it is necessary if the town is to stay within its budget and current mill rate.

The 10 Year Highway Plan

We have just completed a 5 year plan for road construction that has exceeded our hopes. Due to the favorable cost of material and construction, we were able to do more miles of roads then we had initially planned. Our original 10 year plan was to have nearly all our residents within one mile of a hard surfaced road. For the vast majority of our residents, this has been accomplished. Our new plan will address heavily traveled and difficult to maintain thoroughfares and roads in our subdivisions. This will be a slow process. The challenge we all must face is increased costs for road maintenance. Currently repairs and upgrading of our infrastructure takes up the majority of the township’s budget. Every year there is more demand for improved roads and for more rapid and consistent maintenance. Blacktopping more roads is one answer. However, public opinion is divided regarding how much of the town’s limited resources should be spent on this effort.

Ditch and Right-of-way Maintenance

The highway right-of-way for most roads in the township stretches 33 feet from the center of the roadway. In many cases the landowner is maintaining the ditch and road right-of-way as lawn. This is a perfectly acceptable use and adds to your property’s aesthetic value. However, during winter maintenance of our roads, gravel is often pushed onto these ditches. The town assumes no responsibility to keep this area clean of material that may land in the groomed ditches.

No structure, debris, or plants (such as trees or shrubs) may be placed on the town right-of-way. To assist in snow removal and to facilitate adequate drainage, township ditches are cleared of brush with our brush cutter. We may remove trees up to the property line if needed. Because of the potential for damage to our equipment, it is necessary to restrict the placing of stone, concrete of other materials in town ditches.

Vision Triangles at Intersections

Property owners should be aware that county zoning code 17.25 states thatin each quadrant of every public street intersection or street railroad intersection, there shall be a vision clearance triangle bounded by the street center line and a line connectingpoints on them 300 feet from a class A highway intersection ( Highway 97 ), 200 feet from a class B highway intersection (County Road E) and 150 feet from a class C highway (town road). Within a vision clearance triangle, no structure or object of natural growth shall be constructed, maintained, or permitted to grow between the height of 2.5 feet and 10 feet above the elevation of the street or highway grade at the center line. There are a number of exceptions: utility poles placed by public authorities, the planting and harvesting of field crops, and shrubbery and trees - except no trees or, shrubbery or field crops shall be planted so as to constitute a substantial obstruction to the view of motorists and pedestrians across the vision triangle from one highway to another.

Snow Removal During Snow Storms

The McMillan Town Board has placed plowing of our roads early after a storm, high on its priority list. Our goal is to have at least one pass on our roads for the AM commute. Operators work long hours, often beginning plowing at 1 or 2 A.M.. They have spent hours fighting the blowing snow, the night glare, and traffic. When you meet a plow, give them the space they need to get their jobs done. It is not only a courtesy, it’s the law! Remember if you can not see the operator, he can’t see you.

Slippery Roads

A combination of rain, snow, cold temperatures and chloride gives our highway crews headaches every winter. Unfortunately, these conditions make it very difficult to treat or clear the ice from road surfaces. Board members receive complaints about the icy condition of our roads. Salt does not work well until temperatures rise above 20 degrees. On our gravel roads, we use a combination of salt and gravel to limit widespread slippery conditions. Because salt damages our chip sealed roads (in subdivisions), every effort is made not to use it. Warmer weather and sunshine are needed to help our crews keep our roadways in good winter driving condition.

Chloride

Chloride, the dust control agent that makes our lives tolerable during the summer months, contributes to the problem we experience during other seasons. During cold damp winter months, chloride absorbs moisture from the air thus increasing the risk of our roadways being slippery. This is a trade off. No cost effective alternative has been found that suppresses dust while not making our roads slippery. The board has explored other options, but to date they do not seem to be any better and may not be as cost effective. Chloride is placed on our roads in late spring, when the roads are settled and any maintenance is completed. The exact timing of the placement of the chloride is impacted by the spring weather.

Winter Caution: Residents Unknowingly Cause Serious Dangers

Pushing snow or other materials onto or across roadways from a private driveway can cause accidents and deaths. It is prohibited by Wisconsin statutes 86.01. 88.07, 346.94 and or 941.30 and our local ordinances. It is essential all residents follow this law to avoid penalty and liability. Snow left on roads places motorists at risk of loosing control when hitting frozen snow. Snow pushed onto shoulders becomes ice banks putting our plow operators and equipment at risk. Hitting this frozen mass with the snowplow’s wing can cause the truck to be abruptly stopped or spin. Each year, throughout the state, operators sustain serious injuries in such accidents. If injury and or damage occurs due to a property owner’s actions, they may be held liable. Violations may result in citations being issued. Please cooperate in ensuring safe roadways.

Caution: Gravel Roads

Town roads, the lowest funded roads in the state highway system, are maintained with gravel or aggregate (crushed rock). Gravel is one of the first surfaces to become icy and thus become very dangerous. Cars traveling at high speeds destroy the road surface in hours after it has been graded. Excessive grading destroys the chloride placed on roads to decrease dust. This angers residents, precludes vision, and creates a traffic hazard. Residents must learn to slow down . Road surfaces change quickly and there is always loose gravel. Getting caught in this loose material can cause loss of control. Please slow down!! Parents, warn your teens of this situation. These conditions may be something they have never experienced.

Speeding in Our Community

Excessive speed continues to be a major problem throughout the town of McMillan. People are driving much faster on the blacktopped roads. Excessive speed is especially dangerous on our gravel roads where drivers may suddenly hit wash boarding or loose gravel. Please slow down. The sheriff’s department does patrol our roads. Please drive carefully. Slow down and be vigilant for ever changing road conditions. Secondary roads are always more unpredictable than state and county highways. Drifting snow and icy condition can create hazards in a very short time. If you become aware of a dangerous road condition, please call the town hall (389-1338) and leave a message describing the situation.

If speeding is a problem in your neighborhood, this can be best handled by calling your Marathon County Sheriff’s Department (715-849-7785) and requesting an officer patrol the area. Give them a time it is occurring, a description of the vehicle and even the name of the offender, if you know it. This is the only way the situation will improve. No matter what speed limit is posted, we rely on Marathon County for law enforcement. Your help is essential. A sign only keeps the legal individual legal. At this time it is unlikely that most of our residents would accept the tax increase necessary to fund a McMillan based law officer.

Running Stop Signs

Another dangerous practice observed in the town is running stop signs. This is especially true at the intersection of Elm and Galvin by the fire station. Cars often never even slow up. The sheriff’s department has been asked to increase surveillance of this and other areas. Report any cars running stop signs at intersections to the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department

Caution When Walking

When walking on town roadways, be aware of the traffic. Walk against traffic, step off the roadway when traffic is approaching. Wear reflective clothing at night and assume the driver has not seen you! When encountering a snowplow while walking, move to the opposite side of the road. Remember a snowplow has a 12 foot wing on its right side that can throw snow 20 feet! When visibility is limited, it may be better to avoid walking on our roadways.

Snowmobile Trails

There are a number of snowmobile trails in the Town of McMillan and surrounding areas each winter. Snowmobiling is a big sport in this area and many residents participate. The two clubs providing snowmobile trails in the town of McMillan are the Little Rose Riders and the Stratford Sno-Runners. Be watchful for snowmobile activity. Riding of snowmobiles, ATVs and horses or even walking on the marked snowmobile trails when they are closed is trespassing and trespassers are subject to a fine. Trail openings are announced via local television and radio stations. Arrangements are made by local snowmobile clubs with landowners. These easements are for use by snowmobilers and in some places ATVers. Trails are not open to horseback riding, hiking, or cross country skiing. The trails are not a safe place for these activities. When trails are open it is important for motor vehicle operators to watch for snowmobiles crossing town roads and highways.