Fitchburg Board of Public Works Meeting Summary: June 15, 2026

The Fitchburg Board of Public Works convened on June 15, 2026, with four of five members present. The agenda covered storm debris cleanup, athletic court renovations, the 2027-2036 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), wastewater compliance reporting, sidewalk replacement contracts, and several easement grants. All action items were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• McGaw Tennis Courts: Patrick Cheney opposed the planned removal of the McGaw tennis courts, arguing the asphalt base is structurally sound and free of cracks after 40-45 years. He urged the city to consider a surface replacement instead, estimating a cost of $15,000 to $20,000.
• Sidewalk Tree Damage (5213 Nine Bark): A resident requested that the city evaluate and remove a tree causing sidewalk damage to avoid paying for repeated sidewalk replacements. Staff confirmed the property was already flagged for tree root removal as part of the planned sidewalk repairs.

Consent Calendar

• The Board unanimously approved the minutes from the June 1, 2026 meeting.

Discussion Items

• Storm Damage and Brush Drop-Off: Director of Public Works Tim Bulker announced the city is accepting storm-damaged brush and tree limbs at the recycling drop-off site (2373 South Fish Hatchery Road) through Monday, June 22, 2026. Approximately 30 city trees were downed by the storm. No size limit applies to dropped branches.
• Project Updates (Director's Report):
  • 2026 Street Resurfacing: Saw cutting has started; concrete removal begins later this week.
  • Research Park Drive: Closed to all vehicle traffic starting June 22 for approximately one month for full reconstruction. The adjacent path will remain accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.
  • Bellmar and Tower Hill Utility Improvements: Water main installation is underway on Sentinel, with work on Tower Hill scheduled next.
• Athletic Court Renovations (7A - R12626): Parks Manager Eric Schreiner presented the low bid from Parking Lot Maintenance for the Swan Creek (full tear-out and repave) and Wildwood South (fiberglass overlay and resurfacing) courts. Staff supported the project as preventative maintenance to extend the courts' lifespan by 25-30 years, citing a lack of prior maintenance on other city courts. The project costs exceed the initial CIP allocation by $25,000, which will be absorbed from other funds.
• 2027-2036 Capital Improvement Plan (7E - R13726): Tim Bulker provided a comprehensive overview. Key findings included a significant funding gap for path maintenance ($130,900 needed annually vs. $47,000 budgeted) and street maintenance ($2M needed vs. $1.3M budgeted). The CIP adds a new path linking to Madison, coordinates a major resurfacing of Fish Hatchery Road with the Town of Verona, adds $600,000 to the Kids Crossing playground replacement (now $1.5M total), and adds a splash pad replacement project. No increase to the wheel tax is proposed.
• Wastewater CMAR (7F - R12926): Staff reported the city received an overall GPA of 4.0 (Grade A) for its wastewater collection system. One sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) occurred on Fish Hatchery Road due to root intrusion. High natural gas consumption at lift stations was attributed to generator use during storm-related power outages. MMSD costs were noted to have risen 50% over the last five years.
• 2026 Sidewalk Bids (7H - R13626): The low bidder was Duluth Concrete LLC with a base bid of $222,958 plus a 9% contingency. Staff noted a favorable budget amendment because the project includes more commercial properties, which are assessed at 100% of costs, generating higher-than-expected special assessment revenue.
• Whalen Road Paved Shoulders (7I - R14226): The project will create continuous paved shoulders over 1.2 miles between Fish Hatchery Road and Fitchrona Road. Low bidder Payne & Dolan submitted a bid of $737,257. The work includes regrading hazardous slopes, removing approximately 10 pine trees, relocating mailboxes, and must remain open for the Iron Man race.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution R12626: Unanimously awarded the Swan Creek and Wildwood South Athletic Court Renovations contract.
• Resolution R13026: Unanimously accepted subdivision improvements for Phase 1 of the Jamestown Quarry plat.
• Resolutions R13126 & R13226: Unanimously postponed to a date uncertain pending missing subdivision improvement agreements.
• Resolution R13726: Unanimously adopted the 2027-2036 Capital Improvement Plan for the portions under the Board of Public Works' authority.
• Resolution R12926: Unanimously accepted the 2025 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report (CMAR) for the wastewater collection system.
• Resolution R13526: Unanimously granted an underground electric easement on Williamsburg Way to MG&E.
• Resolution R13626: Unanimously awarded the 2026 sidewalk replacement bid and approved the associated budget amendment.
• Resolution R14226: Unanimously awarded the Whalen Road Paved Shoulders contract and directly referred it to the June 23, 2026 Common Council meeting to expedite construction.
• Resolution R14126: Unanimously granted an additional underground electric easement for the Police Services Facility, directly referred to the June 23, 2026 Council meeting.
• The next regular Board of Public Works meeting was scheduled for July 6, 2026.