Winnebago County supervisors approve 2026 budgets, bridge agreement and other measures

Winnebago County Board of Supervisors approved multiple budget and project items during a regularly scheduled meeting, including final adoption of the county fiscal year 2026 budget and the secondary roads budget and five-year construction program. Supervisors also approved a 28E agreement with the city of Leland for a bridge replacement project, appointed a county representative to the Winnebago River Watershed Coalition and authorized replacement of a motor and barrel on a trailer dock roll-up door.

The board finalized the county—wide fiscal year 2026 budget after opening and closing a public hearing earlier in the meeting. A motion to approve the fiscal year 2026 general budget passed after a voice vote. The board later approved the secondary road budget and the related five-year construction program; the board—s discussion stressed that the first two years of the five-year program are the most firm and later years are effectively a prioritization list.

Supervisors approved a 28E intergovernmental agreement with the city of Leland that allocates administrative, inspection and consultant responsibilities for a bridge replacement project on Broadway east of Leland; the agreement specifies the city will pay consultant fees and the county will provide administrative support and construction inspection at no cost to the city.

The board appointed Chris Barber as the county—s representative on the Winnebago River Watershed Coalition, with Susan Smith named as the alternate. The board also authorized replacement of the motor and barrel on a roll-up door at the county trailer dock and approved the auditor—s transfer of $452,384.73 from rural basic to secondary roads to keep road projects funded. The board approved county claims in a routine vote.

Where motions and seconds were recorded in the audio, the meeting minutes show the mover and seconder; recorded roll-call tallies were not announced beyond the board—s voice "ayes" during votes.

Votes at a glance: - Fiscal year 2026 budget: motion to approve passed (motion text: "I—make a motion to approve the fiscal year 2026 budget.") — second recorded by Smith — outcome: approved. - Secondary roads 2026 budget and five-year construction program: motion by Derby; second by Smith — outcome: approved. - 28E agreement with city of Leland (bridge J-01-NX-1): motion to approve; second recorded — outcome: approved. Agreement allocates consultant fee responsibility to the city and administrative/inspection support to the county; terminates on project completion. - Appointment to Winnebago River Watershed Coalition: motion by Derby (read on the record), second by Smith — Chris Barber appointed as primary representative; Susan Smith alternate — outcome: approved. - Replacement of motor and barrel for trailer dock roll-up door: motion to proceed; second recorded — outcome: approved. - Auditor transfers: $452,384.73 from rural basic to secondary roads — motion and second recorded — outcome: approved. - County claims: motion and second recorded — outcome: approved.

The board noted the secondary roads program is a moving plan: first and second year projects are firm while years three through five are prioritized lists subject to change. Supervisors and staff said they will obtain the required signed pages and file the bridge agreement after city signatures and proceed with procurement or scheduling for approved repairs and maintenance.

Provenance (excerpted from meeting audio): - Fiscal year 2026 budget: meeting segments beginning approximately at the public hearing opening (segment index ~138.425 seconds) through the motion and vote (segment index ~424.49—441.72). - Secondary roads budget & 5-year program: segments ~3625.64—3767.11. - 28E Leland bridge agreement: segments ~3991.97—4163.75. - Watershed Coalition appointment: segments ~3835.30—3948.39. - Trailer dock motor replacement: segments ~5859.32—5879.72. - Auditor transfers and county claims: segments ~6565.14—6630.14.

The meeting record shows voice votes for each approval; named movers and seconders are recorded where speakers announced them during the session. The board did not record a full roll-call vote with a per-member recorded tally in the audio excerpts provided.