Village of Colfax, WI

09/04/2026

🚧 WIS 170 BRIDGE PROJECT UPDATE – SEPTEMBER 4

Here’s the latest on the WIS 170/Red Cedar River Bridge project:

🔹 This week: Crews have been removing the existing bridge deck and girders. New girders were delivered this week.

🔹 Next week: Work will focus on saw cutting and completing the remaining Stage 1 removals, including preparation for removal of portions of the bridge pedestals.

🔹 Week of September 14: Crews are scheduled to splice and set the new girders.

⚠️ OVERNIGHT CLOSURE COMING: Setting the new girders will require an overnight closure and detour of WIS 170. The exact date has not yet been determined. We will post that information as soon as it is confirmed so residents, businesses and school families can plan ahead.

The project currently has approximately 60 working days remaining under the contract schedule.

Thank you for your patience while this important bridge work continues!

09/03/2026

We are so grateful to have Stephanie join us and are excited to see the programming continue to grow under her leadership! Stop by and say hi and give her a nice Colfax welcome!

Please give a warm welcome to our new library director, Stephanie Brostrom.

09/03/2026

🏠 PROPERTY REVALUATION COMING IN 2027 – WHAT PROPERTY OWNERS SHOULD KNOW

Village property owners may have recently received a letter from our assessor regarding a Village-wide property revaluation planned for 2027. We want to provide a little background about why the revaluation is necessary — and clear up one very common misconception.

Currently, property assessments in the Village of Colfax are significantly below current market values. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue's most recent finalized report placed the Village's overall level of assessment at approximately 69% of full market value. In other words, properties as a whole are being assessed at roughly 70% of their estimated market value.

Wisconsin requires municipalities to periodically bring assessments back in line with full market value. Under state assessment standards, each major property class must fall between 90% and 110% of full value at least once during every five-year period. Colfax is currently listed by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue as **not in compliance with these assessment standards.**

That is why a revaluation is being conducted.

IMPORTANT NOTE: An increase in your assessed value does NOT automatically mean your property taxes will increase by the same percentage — or even increase at all.

A revaluation primarily changes how the total property tax burden is distributed among properties. The Village, school district, county and other taxing jurisdictions determine how much money they need to collect through their respective tax levies. Those levies are then divided among taxable properties based on their share of the total assessed value.

A higher assessment does not automatically mean a higher tax bill.

If most properties in the Village increase in value at about the same rate, the tax rate generally decreases. Your tax bill is affected more by how your property's value changes compared with everyone else's.

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue specifically notes that an increase or decrease in an individual assessment does **not predict whether that property's tax bill will go up, down or stay approximately the same.**

The purpose of the revaluation is not to generate additional Village revenue. Its purpose is to bring property values closer to current market conditions and make sure the property tax burden is distributed as fairly and uniformly as possible.

📌 We have also prepared a Property Revaluation FAQ explaining the process, assessments, market value, tax bills, appeals and what property owners can expect during the 2027 revaluation.
https://www.villageofcolfaxwi.org/property-taxes-assessments

We understand that receiving a revaluation notice can raise questions, and we will continue providing information throughout the process.

08/31/2026

🚧 HWY 40 PROJECT UPDATE – AUGUST 31 🚧

Work continues on the USH 12/STH 40 project between Elk Mound and Colfax.

🏘️ Work in the Village of Colfax

• Crews are paving side roads/intersections in Colfax this week.
• Work completed last week included raising manholes/other roadway iron, paving the surface through Colfax, and paving side roads near the school from Ash Street to CTH M.
• The railroad crossing replacement in Colfax is substantially complete. Remaining work includes filling the area between the curb and sidewalk and correcting the drop-off next to the sidewalk.
• Crews are beginning to put together a preliminary punch list for work already completed in Colfax.

🚌 With school starting September 1, there will be no parking on Ash, Birch and Amble Streets during school drop-off and pickup times, approximately 8:00–8:30 a.m. and 3:00–3:30 p.m.

🚧 Work Elsewhere on the Project

• Mainline paving continues between Elk Mound, Hwy 29, 870th Street and CTH E.
• Crews will also be paving turn lanes and the triangular roadway transition areas near Hwy 29 where lanes split or merge.
• Guardrail work continues north of CTH B.
• Temporary pavement markings will be installed as needed.
• Crews will not work past noon Friday.

📅 Looking Ahead to the Week of September 7

• No work Monday for Labor Day.
• Paving crews may not be on site.
• Shouldering work is expected during the middle to latter part of the week.
• Guardrail work will continue, including work near 620th Street.

The current contract completion date remains October 24, 2026.

Thank you for your continued patience, and please use caution when traveling through the work zone.

08/28/2026

💡 DID YOU KNOW? — Evergreen Cemetery Decorations

The Village recently updated its cemetery rules regarding grave decorations.

Under the previous rules, all grave decorations had to be removed by October 1 each year. That requirement has been eliminated.

Families may now leave decorations at gravesites year-round, as long as they remain in good condition and are properly maintained.

Cemetery staff may remove and dispose of decorations that become broken, badly weathered, deteriorated, unsightly, or otherwise are no longer being maintained.

This change gives families more flexibility while still helping us keep the cemetery neat, respectful, and well cared for.

Please help us spread the word, especially to anyone who may still be familiar with the old October 1 rule.

The full list of cemetery rules/guidelines are posted at Evergreen Cemetery.

08/27/2026

Let's Bowl! 🎳🎳🎳

08/26/2026

Way to go, Allie & Colfax, WI Splash Pad and Playground Project! Big THANK YOU to Jared at Wisco Dive Bar Reviews for partnering with Allie and helping to boost this project to the next level. Shout out to WEAU 13 News for this great coverage!

Please give Wisco Dive Bar Reviews a follow and let’s show some big Colfax support, spread the word, and help make this fundraiser a huge success for the Colfax, WI Splash Pad and Playground Project! 💦🛝💙

https://www.weau.com/2026/08/26/accessible-splash-pad-playground-fundraiser-colfax-partners-with-wisco-dive-bars/

08/25/2026

Support & recognize the amazing efforts of this team and coaching staff!!

Our first Superior Auto Body Inc. Team of the Week poll is up!

Our nominations are:

- Colfax Football (snapped 26-game losing streak dating back to start of the 2023 season)
- Fall Creek (28-20 win over Altoona)
- Lake Holcombe (36-0 win over Winter/Birchwood, most points in a game since end of the 2023 season)

Polls are open until Friday morning!!

https://us17.list-manage.com/survey?u=c38be669f6f36403a8f3fe635&id=01e9d78026&attribution=false

08/24/2026

🚧 USH 12/STH 40 Construction Update – Week of August 24 🚧

Here’s the latest update from today’s weekly construction meeting.

IN THE VILLAGE OF COLFAX
**Wednesday: Paving is planned on the mainline and parking lane north of WIS 170 through the end of the project (Cty M).
**Thursday: Paving is planned from Dollar General area to the bridge.
**Manhole adjustments will continue throughout Colfax.
**Temporary pavement markings will be installed as needed. There will be a gap in the centerline marking from the bridge to Ash Street due to the WIS 170 bridge project.
**Final work remains at the Wisconsin Central railroad crossing, including filling the area between the curb and sidewalk and correcting the drop-off next to the sidewalk.
**The asphalt curb at Amble Street will be replaced when surface paving is completed at the intersection.
**The project team will also be looking at the storm drain east of Iverson.
🏫 School starts September 1. Once school is in session, there will be no parking on Ash, Birch and Amble Streets during school drop-off and pick-up times, approximately 8:00–8:30 a.m. and 3:00–3:30 p.m.

OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE
**Friday: Paving is planned on the south end of the project near Elk Mound.
**Saturday: Paving is tentatively planned for side roads and other paved areas at intersections on the south end of the project.
**Guardrail work will continue, working north.
**Additional shouldering work on the south end may begin late next week.

Next week, surface paving is expected to continue from the USH 29 area toward CTH E.

⚠️ Please continue to use caution throughout the construction zone, watch for flaggers and changing traffic patterns, and allow extra travel time.

The overall project completion date remains October 24, 2026.

Thank you for your continued patience as this project moves forward!