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Record of Proceedings

Fitchburg Board of Public Works Meeting Summary – August 17, 2026

Common Council & City Boards — Monday, August 17, 2026
BodyFitchburg, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council & City Boards
DateMonday, August 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:05:10

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

Stay connected everywhere you go.

0:03

Fitchburg is on your phone and your tablet and your laptop and TV.

0:08

Download the app.

0:09

It's free.

0:11

Access Fitchburg.

0:12

This is your city at your fingertips.

Unassigned speaker

0:29

Hi,

Speaker 2

0:30

I'm Jeremy Crosby.

0:31

And I'm Nick Bouchet.

0:32

We're your host for the program that's all about your city, Talking Fitchburg.

0:36

Every weekday, we pull together the news, events, and information you need to stay on top of what's happening in the city of Pittsburgh.

0:42

Find Talking Fitchburg on Cable TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, and our live stream on the web.

0:48

Plus, you can find all our headlines and stories on Facebook, YouTube, and our video on demand service.

0:53

This is your city.

0:54

Keep up with Talking Fitzburg and the issues affecting you and your neighbors.

Speaker 3

1:11

First item on the agenda here is roll call.

1:14

With us tonight, we have board member Kim Lobdel, board member Dave Wilburn, myself chair Alder Jetzer, and board member Don Gutkowski.

1:25

And I'm purposely talking slowly because I see Older Herbst has just walked into the room.

1:34

That makes all of us.

Speaker 4

1:35

He had a flat tire on the way.

Speaker 3

1:38

Full quorum.

1:40

Okay, so moving on.

1:41

Public appearances for non-agenda items.

1:43

I see no one in chambers and no one online.

1:46

So we can move ahead to the approval of the minutes.

1:48

I will entertain a motion to approve the minutes.

Speaker 4

1:51

I so move and approve the August 3rd meeting.

1:55

Second.

Speaker 3

1:56

Thank you, Dave.

1:57

Thank you, Don.

1:58

Are there any comments?

2:01

Seeing none, I will uh call the vote here.

2:04

All in favor of the approval of the minute.

2:06

Say aye.

2:07

Aye.

2:07

Aye.

2:08

Any opposed?

2:09

It is unanimous.

2:11

Next report from the director of public works, Mr.

2:14

Tim Volker.

Speaker 5

2:16

Good evening.

2:17

A couple general items to start off the report with.

2:21

A public involvement meeting for the proposed County Trunk Highway MM Pedestrian and Bicycle Underpass Project is on Thursday, August 27th, 2026 from 530 to 6:30 p.m.

2:36

at Fitchburg Fire Station 3, which is on 2950 South Sayin Road.

2:43

So here residents will have an opportunity to view the preliminary plans.

2:48

Learn about the proposed project and schedule, ask questions, and provide feedback on the project.

2:55

This project would create a new pedestrian and bicycle underpass beneath County Trunk Highway MM near Laniello Court, improving trail connectivity and safety.

3:07

Construction is currently anticipated for summer 2027 for this project.

3:14

Next general item is Adams Road between Fitchburg Road and Went Road will be closed to all traffic from 7:30 a.m.

3:24

starting Monday, August 24th through approximately 3 p.m.

3:30

Friday, August 28th for a culvert replacement.

3:34

Uh so there'll be no access through the work area during construction of this project.

3:40

Next up are a couple project updates this evening.

3:44

2026 Street Resurfacing Project.

3:47

Tower Hills, the only remaining streets left to be paved.

3:51

Um all other streets have been paved.

3:54

And then today Research Park Drive was striped today and uh will be open to traffic um immediately now or uh first thing in the morning.

4:07

And then our 2026 sidewalk replacement project.

4:12

The contractor commenced construction today, so they started removing some old sidewalk and even started pouring new sidewalk today.

4:20

How we anticipate that project to be completed uh next month.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████████31%
Water And Wastewater Management███████████████████19%
Transportation Safety███████████████15%
Procedural█████████████13%
Public Safety██████████10%
Waste Management███████7%
Arts And Culture███3%
Environmental Protection██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Fitchburg Board of Public Works Meeting Summary – August 17, 2026

The Fitchburg Board of Public Works met on Monday, August 17, 2026, with a full quorum. Chair Alder Jetzer, Alder Herbst, and board members Kim Lobdel, Dave Wilburn, and Don Gutkowski were present. Staff and board discussion focused on infrastructure project updates and six action-item resolutions covering stormwater rates, a well construction award, and Jamestown Quarry subdivision improvements. The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public appeared in chambers or online for the public appearances portion of the agenda.

Public Works Director’s Report

  • Public involvement meeting for the County Trunk Highway MM Pedestrian and Bicycle Underpass Project will be held Thursday, August 27, 2026, 5:30–6:30 p.m., at Fitchburg Fire Station 3, 2950 South Sayin Road. The project would create an underpass beneath CTH MM near Laniello Court; construction is anticipated for summer 2027.
  • Adams Road between Fitchburg Road and Went Road will be closed to all traffic from 7:30 a.m. Monday, August 24 through approximately 3 p.m. Friday, August 28, 2026, for culvert replacement.
  • 2026 Street Resurfacing: Tower Hills streets remain to be paved; Research Park Drive was striped and reopened.
  • 2026 sidewalk replacement began Aug. 17, with completion expected next month.
  • Wayland Road paved shoulder project: preconstruction meeting held Aug. 5; traffic and erosion control installation anticipated later that week.
  • Bellmar and Tower Hill Utility Improvement Project: paving scheduled next week; water services being installed in Tower Hill.
  • Well 12 Project: bids opened Aug. 11; six bids received. The low bid was $3,725,045, with bids ranging to $4,295,000. Award was on the agenda.
  • Fitchrona Road Reconstruction: utility relocation along Fitchrona Road begins Aug. 17 through Nov. 30, 2026; Homer Tree Service will begin tree clearing later that week, expected to finish within one to two weeks.
  • During discussion, staff said Schumann Drive temporary safety improvements—flexible delineators, striping, and signage—are intended to address pedestrian and bicyclist crossing safety; a permanent sidewalk connection would require property owner support and additional funding. Volker also said the contractor is responsible for leftover rubble at Petersburg Circle and would be contacted.

Discussion and Action Items

  • Resolution R1612 (Jamestown Quarry subdivision improvement amendment): approved 4–1. The amendment allows McKee Road overhead signage to be installed after occupancy because of material and approval delays; the sign foundation deadline is Sept. 30, 2026, and signage deadline is Dec. 1, 2026. Board members raised concerns about driver guidance and liability, with one opposing vote.
  • Resolution R16226 (acceptance of phase two subdivision improvements in Jamestown Quarry): approved unanimously. Minor cleanup, lien waivers, and inspection fees remain outstanding.
  • Resolution R17626 (assignment and assumption of subdivision improvement agreement): approved unanimously. Wingra Real Estate LLC assigned public improvement obligations to Fitchburg Partners LLC.
  • Resolution R15526 (stormwater utility rate increase): approved unanimously. The 5% citywide increase takes effect Jan. 1, 2027; annual cost increases are $3.12 for rural single-family and $5.32 for urban single-family homes.
  • Resolution R1526 (Purple Cow Organics contract): approved unanimously. The sole-source 2027–2029 brush and yard waste processing contract totals $83,454.30, with 2027 set at $27,000 and 3% annual increases. Current 2026 cost is $24,091.92.
  • Resolution R1712 (Well 12 construction award): approved unanimously. Award to J.H. Hassinger Inc. is $3,911,297.25, including a 5% contingency; a two-thirds budget amendment for $147,000 in park fees for public restrooms will go to the Finance Committee. Note: the low bid was initially read as $3,725,005 and later as $3,725,045 during the resolution discussion.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes of the Aug. 3, 2026 meeting approved unanimously.
  • All six resolutions passed; R1612 was the only non-unanimous vote (4–1).
  • The next Board of Public Works meeting was set for Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, because Sept. 7, 2026 is Labor Day.
  • Announcements included the unveiling of the Brewer’s mural at McKee Farms Park and the final summer concert at the park after the meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Stay connected everywhere you go. Fitchburg is on your phone and your tablet and your laptop and TV. Download the app. It's free. Access Fitchburg. This is your city at your fingertips. Hi, I'm Jeremy Crosby. And I'm Nick Bouchet. We're your host for the program that's all about your city, Talking Fitchburg. Every weekday, we pull together the news, events, and information you need to stay on top of what's happening in the city of Pittsburgh. Find Talking Fitchburg on Cable TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, and our live stream on the web. Plus, you can find all our headlines and stories on Facebook, YouTube, and our video on demand service. This is your city. Keep up with Talking Fitzburg and the issues affecting you and your neighbors. First item on the agenda here is roll call. With us tonight, we have board member Kim Lobdel, board member Dave Wilburn, myself chair Alder Jetzer, and board member Don Gutkowski. And I'm purposely talking slowly because I see Older Herbst has just walked into the room. That makes all of us. He had a flat tire on the way. Full quorum. Okay, so moving on. Public appearances for non-agenda items. I see no one in chambers and no one online. So we can move ahead to the approval of the minutes. I will entertain a motion to approve the minutes. I so move and approve the August 3rd meeting. Second. Thank you, Dave. Thank you, Don. Are there any comments? Seeing none, I will uh call the vote here. All in favor of the approval of the minute. Say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? It is unanimous. Next report from the director of public works, Mr. Tim Volker. Good evening. A couple general items to start off the report with. A public involvement meeting for the proposed County Trunk Highway MM Pedestrian and Bicycle Underpass Project is on Thursday, August 27th, 2026 from 530 to 6:30 p.m. at Fitchburg Fire Station 3, which is on 2950 South Sayin Road. So here residents will have an opportunity to view the preliminary plans. Learn about the proposed project and schedule, ask questions, and provide feedback on the project. This project would create a new pedestrian and bicycle underpass beneath County Trunk Highway MM near Laniello Court, improving trail connectivity and safety. Construction is currently anticipated for summer 2027 for this project. Next general item is Adams Road between Fitchburg Road and Went Road will be closed to all traffic from 7:30 a.m. starting Monday, August 24th through approximately 3 p.m.

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