The Green County Board has not yet approved a new Highway Department facility, but county leaders appear to be moving closer to a decision on what would be one of the largest capital projects undertaken by the county in recent years.

During its June 9 meeting, the Green County Board stopped short of formally approving a site, facility plan or project debt. However, supervisors expressed general support for continued planning around a proposed new Highway Department campus at a site near Pleasant View Nursing Home on Monroe's north side. The board delayed action in order to provide additional time for public information and discussion regarding the project's financial impact.

The proposal is based on facility studies conducted by Barrientos Design & Consulting, of Milwaukee, which evaluated the department's operational needs and future space requirements. Conceptual site plans, project layouts and cost estimates were subsequently developed by Kraemer Brothers, a longtime Wisconsin construction firm headquartered in Plain.

The proposal stems from years of study examining the condition of the county's existing Highway Department facilities, many of which date back to 1937 and have been expanded over time.