Wood County asks state for help with frac sand mining

A county in west central Wisconsin is asking the state for money to maintain roads used by frac sand trucks. The aim is to unify about 20 counties, all with frac sand operations, in lobbying for aid.

Frac sand mining in Wisconsin has dramatically increased during the last three years. It’s now estimated there are more than 60 mines and processing facilities in the state. The new industry is creating a boon for local governments in the form of jobs and tax dollars. But it can also cost local governments when roads used by heavy trucks hauling frac sand wear out. In Wood County, officials are about to ask the state to chip in. Jerry Nelson is a county board supervisor from the city of Marshfield. He says the state is benefiting from fuel taxes paid by sand haulers, but it takes too long for the money to get back to the county: “When you look at the fuel tax, that money all goes to the state and it takes about six years before it comes back.”

So, Nelson says he and fellow supervisors are passing a resolution asking for more help, “Let’s get the state involved and look at the revenue from the fuel tax and say, ‘Hey, we need the financial assistance to take care of the roads.’”

The resolution doesn’t ask for any specific amount of money and doesn’t say where it should come from but Nelson says it’s a first step to getting help for financially strapped counties. And, Nelson says the resolution isn’t anti-sand mining, “It’s a tremendous opportunity with economic development but we’ve got to get it off the ground and get everybody working together.”

The Wood County Highway Department says it is currently negotiating with frac sand companies to help pay for road improvements and has already secured one contract.