Marinette County supervisors have rejected a nine-million-dollar borrowing plan aimed at repairing deteriorating county highways.

The proposal received twenty-two yes votes and eight no votes but failed to reach the required approval threshold.

Highway officials say one-hundred-five miles of county roads are rated poor, while another one-hundred-eighty-nine miles need maintenance.

Highway Commissioner Eric Burmeister told supervisors the county needs approximately fifteen-million dollars over five years to address those conditions.

County Board Supervisor Mark Anderson had this to say…

Supporters of borrowing argued delaying repairs could increase costs and jeopardize state transportation aid.

Opponents raised concerns about adding debt and increasing costs for taxpayers.

Following the failed borrowing vote, supervisors approved approximately 1.44-million dollars from county reserves for previously identified road projects.

That measure passed twenty to one.

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