Board of Public Works Meeting - March 30, 2026

The Board of Public Works met on Monday, March 30, 2026, at 10:00 AM (called to order at 10:05 AM) in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 400 La Crosse Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin. Members present: Erin Goggin, Matt Gallager, Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey, and Tamra Dickinson. Andrea Trane was excused. The board unanimously approved several items, including construction contracts, easement acquisitions, a noise exemption, and wastewater treatment plant upgrades.

Consent Calendar

• Bidder's Proof of Responsibility (25-1172): Approved bids from August Winter and Sons Inc. ($292,660) and Wappashaw Construction Company Inc. ($21,575,132). Motion carried 4-0 (yes: Goggin, Gallager, Washington-Spivey, Dickinson; excused: Trane).
• Resolution dedicating City property (26-0204): Dedicated Lot 42 of Sexauer's Addition to public right-of-way and approved partial vacation for Badger Corrugating Company. Staff described it as a housekeeping item to clear a decades-old dedication issue on 13th Street. Motion carried 4-0.
• Resolution allocating unused Sanitary Sewer funds (26-0238): Allocated funds for the final payment on the $65 million Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades, which were $120,000 over budget. The overage will be reimbursed by the Clean Water Fund. The plant now generates its own electricity from methane, dries biosolids for Class A fertilizer, and meets new phosphorus limits. Motion carried 4-0.
• Approval of payment list for Easement Acquisitions for Highway 16 (26-0247): Approved $54,500 from the Clean Water Fund for four permanent water main easements and one temporary easement, all acquired for installation of a 24-inch water main. Motion carried 4-0.
• Construction Contract Change Orders (26-0319): Approved Change Orders #12 and #14 for La Crosse Public Library interior renovations. Staff indicated these may be the final change orders. Motion carried 4-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public Hearing - Construction Noise Exemption (26-0249): No members of the public appeared to speak. The hearing was held for Gerke Excavating's request for a limited exemption to work outside the city's 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. noise restrictions on Highway 16.

Discussion Items

• Highway 16 Water Main Noise Exemption (26-0249): The applicant, Scott from Gerke Excavating, explained that night work would be limited to staging materials and lane closures to avoid traffic disruption. No water main installation would occur at night. The board approved the exemption unanimously (4-0), with no public opposition.
• WWTP Loading Rerate (26-0296): Jared, staff, presented a contract with Donohue Services to re-rate the plant's BOD (biological oxygen demand) loading capacity from the current 29,000 lbs/day to approximately 40,000 lbs/day. This is needed because the plant exceeded its previous limit, triggering a poor DNR score. The re-rate will be funded from the operating budget and will not change customer fees. The motion passed unanimously (4-0).

Key Outcomes

• All seven agenda items were approved with unanimous 4-0 votes (all present members voting yes; Trane excused).
• The board authorized final close-out of the WWTP upgrade project, including a $120,000 overage reimbursement from the Clean Water Fund.
• The board approved four permanent and one temporary easement for the Highway 16 water main project.
• Gerke Excavating received a limited noise exemption for night work along Highway 16.
• Donohue Services was contracted to perform a loading re-rate study for the wastewater plant.
• Two change orders for the library renovation were approved, likely marking completion of that project.
• Meeting adjourned at 10:18 AM.