Highway Safety Commission

(View Minutes & Agendas)

Committee Type and Reporting Relationship: The Highway Safety Commission (a statutory commission) coordinates through the Marathon County Infrastructure Standing Committee to the County Board.

Mission/Purpose Statement: Recommend improvements to elected officials regarding traffic safety problems

Statutory Responsibilities: The Highway Safety Commission will follow Chapters 59, 62, 66, and 83 of the Wis. Statutes.

Membership: Total of 15 members consisting of

A. Required representation. Each Commission is required to have at least the following nine members:

1. The County Highway Commissioner or a designated representative.

2. The Chief County Law Enforcement Officer or a designated representative.

3. The County Highway Safety Coordinator, designated by the County Board.

4. An Education Representative designated by the County Board.

5. A Medical Representative designated by the County Board (e.g., doctor, nurse, hospital administrator, paramedic, etc.).

6. A Legal Representative designated by the County Board.

7. A Division of State Patrol Representative designated by Wisconsin Department of Transportation. (WisDOT).

8. A Highway Traffic Engineering Representative designated by WisDOT.

9. A Traffic Safety Representative designated by WisDOT (Bureau of Transportation Safety, Regional Program Manager).

B. Optional Additional Representation. Additional representation is encouraged; counties may appoint additional persons:

Elected officials, representative from citizen organizations and other civic leaders concerned with traffic safety (e.g., Mother’s Against Drunk Drivers, Students Against Driving Drunk, Wo/Men Highway Safety Leaders, Railroad representatives, etc.), news media representatives, and county highway committee members.

Member Term: All County Board members and other County appointees are appointed for a two year term to coincide with biennial organization of the County Board except Highway Safety Coordinator. Highway Safety coordinator is appointed by the County Administrator subject to County Board Approval. Appointments are made by the County Board Chair and confirmed by the County Board. Committee vacancies will be filled according to County Board Rule 13.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Encourage and foster traffic safety activity in the county and its cities and towns. (e.g., bike rodeos, pedestrian safety education, etc.).

2. Conduct traffic safety assessments and field reviews.

3. Advocate for on traffic safety issues and legislation.

4. Recommend specific traffic safety improvements to be included in local agency budgets, federal highway programs, hazard elimination projects, etc.

5. Alert highway safety professionals, advocates, and when appropriate, elected officials, state or local, to traffic safety problems.

6. Review traffic crash data from the county/city (e.g., crash reports, spot maps, etc.).

7. Review other traffic safety related information (citation data, engineering studies, speed studies, etc.).

8. Prepare and maintain a spot map of traffic crash locations.

9. Send recommendations for corrective actions in writing to appropriate governmental officials, businesses and other interested groups.

10. File a report on each meeting with the Bureau of Transportation Safety (BOTS).

11. Represent the interests of their constituency. (health, engineering, enforcement, citizen groups, etc.).

12. Offer solutions to traffic safety related problems that are brought to the Commission.

13. Report back to their constituency.

Other Organization Relationships:

Public Safety Committee

County Sheriff

Commission Members:

Name	Address	Home Phone	Business Phone
James Palmer Chairperson	T8581 Quarry Road Wausau, WI 54403	715-842-2947
Lt. Ted Knoeck Secretary	500 Forest Street Wausau, WI 54403		715-261-1200
Randy Hoenisch	500 Forest Street Wausau, WI 54403		715-261-1200
James Griesbach	1430 West Street Wausau, WI 54401		715-261-1800
Jeff Frenette	State Patrol
Ron Becker	WI DOT
Patti Nelles	WI DOT
Timothy Hanley	WI DOT
Scott Schatschneider	Rib Mountain Street/Parks
Paul Clarke	Northcentral Technical College
John Larson	Medical Examiner
Kevin Crooks	Legal Representative
Wilma Witter	Citizen Member