Fitchburg Board of Public Works Meeting – February 16, 2026

No agenda or minutes were available; this summary is based on the raw transcript. The Board of Public Works met Monday, February 16, 2026, heard the Director of Public Works report, and approved eight resolutions. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the February 2, 2026 meeting minutes by unanimous voice vote (motion by Member Wilbourn, seconded by Ald. Jetzer).

Director of Public Works Report

• Tim Volker, Director of Public Works, reported that the 2026 street resurfacing project will be advertised shortly, with a bid opening scheduled for the end of February 2026; Hillside Heights, off Irish Lane, is the major neighborhood this year.
• The Fitch-Rona Road/Goose Lake Stormwater Project will be advertised for bids in March. The Goose Lake discharge work is separate from the Fitch-Rona Road reconstruction and should be completed in 2026.
• The Fitch-Rona Road reconstruction, from Tonto Trail north to Nesbitt Road, is delayed by land acquisition around the planned roundabout at Lacey and Fitch-Rona. Three or four properties remain in negotiation; if agreements are not reached, condemnation could begin around April 6 as a last resort. The project is expected to span two construction seasons and includes funding from the Town of Verona and a city grant. A sewer design change to run north, plus removal of a bike path on the Fermica property at the owner's request, also contributed to delays.
• A board member raised sight-line concerns for driveways near the Tonto Trail hill; Volker said extensive changes would be very costly and he would review the profiles if needed.
• Volker also responded to earlier council comments about stormwater-funded projects, saying stormwater work is paid through the stormwater utility rather than property taxes, and defended the city's leaf-bagging and street-sweeping practices.
• A board member requested that staff notify Mark Hoddle about a rotted speed limit sign on King James Way, just down from Williamsburg Way.

Discussion Items

2026 Sidewalk Replacement – Resolution R-4826

• The board approved the preliminary assessment resolution for the 2026 sidewalk replacement program. Most locations are in the northeast part of the city, with additional individual sidewalks added after resident reports. A public GIS map with photos will be posted once finalized, and bids are expected around April. Terra Vesa markings are the responsibility of builders, not the city. The scope is comparable to the 2024 project because 2025 was spent finishing that earlier project.

Rejection of Area H Stormwater Pond Bids – Resolution R-4126

• The board authorized rejection of bids for the Area H Stormwater Pond. Bids came in around $3 million, which concerned the landowners. The landowners later reached an agreement to build smaller stormwater facilities instead. The original pond would have had about seven acres of water surface; the alternative is approximately two wet ponds and three infiltration basins providing equivalent treatment. Those facilities will be publicly owned and maintained. Volker confirmed that city ratepayers will not pay for the original pond design; surrounding property owners will cover that cost.

Burn Pond Vegetation Management – Resolution R-3126

• The board approved a 2026-2028 vegetation management contract for the Burn Pond. The work targets reed canary grass that continues to appear, likely from old seed in the soil. The contract includes chemical and mechanical removal and one prescribed burn. A member suggested exploring help from Friends of the Park.

Stormwater Utility Vegetation Management – Resolution R-3026

• The board approved the 2026-2028 stormwater utility vegetation management program contract with Heartland Ecological at $87,000 per year. Many sites will see fewer visits than in the previous term (one or two instead of three). Terra Vesa facilities still held by developers are excluded until transferred to the city. Most sites receive one prescribed burn over the three-year term, while Terra Vesa medians and infiltration areas are burned annually. The work is funded by the stormwater utility; the fire department reviews prescribed burn applications but does not conduct the burns.

Badger Lift Station Replacement Budget Amendment – Resolution R-4626

• The board approved an amendment to the 2026 sewer utility and capital projects fund budgets for the Badger Lift Station replacement. Madison will pay 66% and Fitchburg 33%, prorated by service area. Construction is expected in summer 2026 through summer 2027, with the new station south of the existing one and about 350 linear feet of force main work. The existing station stays in service until switchover. The existing station dates from about 1960 and uses an outdated dry-well/wet-well system; the cost increase was attributed to a full redesign and added force main work. Funding will draw on the former Town of Madison capital account, which has also been used for equipment such as plow trucks.

General Fund Utilities and Telephone Budget Amendment – Resolution R-4526

• The board approved an amendment to the 2025 general fund budget for utilities and telephone. The amendment has no net budget effect, using funds from accounts related to The HUB, which was in service only until November 2025. The main cause of the overage was high heating costs in November and December, not telephone service. One fire station heat pump issue increased boiler use, while the geothermal-heated library was not a major driver. Volker committed to provide a summary of how city buildings are heated and cooled at the next meeting and to review whether the utility budget should grow by more than 3% annually.

Affidavit of Correction for Nine Springs Bike/Ped Path Easement – Resolution R-4926

• The board approved an affidavit correcting the legal description of the public pedestrian/bike path easement in the Seventh Edition to Nine Springs plat for Lot 66, Outlot 41, and Outlot 42, where Life Point Hospital and the LEDO apartments are planned. The original recorded description was incorrect. The correction does not change the easement width and has no cost to the city.

No Oaks Ranch Subdivision Improvements Agreement – Resolution R-1826

• The board approved an agreement for subdivision improvements on Outlot 2 of Certified Survey Map 15163, the No Oaks Ranch plat. The CSM creates Lot 1 out of Outlot 2, and the agreement covers required public improvements, including Home Street and multi-use path/sidewalk work. The agreement was described as a standard template modified for smart-code requirements, including 6-foot and 12-foot sidewalk/path widths. It does not require Planning Commission review and will go to the Common Council next week.

Announcements

• The next Board of Public Works meeting is Monday, March 2, 2026. The chair said he would be in Canada and might call in.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the February 2, 2026 minutes and eight resolutions by unanimous voice vote: R-4826, R-4126, R-3126, R-3026, R-4626, R-4526, R-4926, and R-1826.
• Staff committed to provide a city buildings heating/cooling summary and utility budget review at the next meeting and to follow up on the King James Way speed limit sign.
• Adjourned at 6:30 p.m.