Board of Public Works Meeting - January 22, 2026
Board of Public Works Meeting - January 22, 2026
The Waukesha Board of Public Works met on January 22, 2026, at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers. Four members were present (Kevin Reilly, Eric E. Payne, Joe Pieper, Steve Kassens) and one absent (Chad O'Donnell). The board unanimously approved several contracts, change orders, and agreements, and received a report on snow plowing operations. All actions were recommended for Council Consent.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: Minutes of January 8, 2026, were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made.
Discussion Items
- 5A. Contract Extension with United Liquid Waste: Staff recommended extending the bio-solids hauling contract for the Clean Water Plant at the same rate of $2,750 per ton quoted in 2023. Members asked about competition (only two bidders in 2023) and the company's coordination with farmers. The contract extension was approved unanimously.
- 5B. Contract Amendment No. 6 with Strand Associates: A not-to-exceed $20,000 amendment for ongoing operational assistance at the Clean Water Plant, covering SCADA adjustments, DNR permit work, and engineering analysis. The board approved unanimously after clarification on SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and the type of work (mostly remote).
- 5C. Contract Change Order No. 1 with August Winter & Sons: For the Fire Station #1 Boiler Replacement project, a $2,450 change order was needed due to building code changes for exhaust venting, following a Department of Energy hold that delayed the project. Approved unanimously.
- 5D. Developer’s Agreement with Tukka Properties, Inc.: For the Lillyrose Road Senior Living Facility Development, located west of Meadowbrook Road and north of Coldwater Creek. Approved unanimously.
- 5E, 5F, 5G. Storm Water Management Practice Maintenance Agreements: Separate agreements for Lots 1, 2, and 3 of the Lillyrose Road Senior Living Facility Development. Each lot has different facilities requiring maintenance by future owners. All three were approved unanimously.
- 5H. Contract Change Order No. 1 with LaLonde Contractors: For the 2025 Silvernail Road Utility and Street Improvements project. The change order had a net zero cost but included: removal and landfill of 383.29 tons of contaminated soil ($35,000), installation of 385 feet of under drain ($18,287.50), additional storm sewer at the Silvernail/Sussex Lane intersection, and reductions elsewhere totaling $61,421 to net zero. Members discussed coordination with the DNR on wetland impacts (small, permitted) and noted the project budget was $3.6 million but construction costs were expected to finish around $2.9 million. Ald. Steve Kassens raised a concern about a bumpy eastbound lane near University Drive; staff confirmed they are requiring LaLonde to profile-graph the lanes and will hold retainage until the issue is corrected in spring.
Key Outcomes
- All 8 items (5A through 5H) and the payment approval were passed unanimously (4-0) and recommended to the Common Council for Consent.
- Approval of Payments (Item 6): Payments were approved, including for the Fire Station #1 boiler project (grant-funded through the Department of Energy) and a transfer switch replacement at Fire Station #5.
Matter of Report
- Snow Plowing Status: Director Damien reported that the city has experienced 21 snow events this season so far, already exceeding the normal seasonal average of 20 to 25 events, with half the season remaining.
- Drop Off Center: Closed on Saturday, January 24, due to forecast extreme cold (predicted -12°F at noon).
Communications and Referrals
- Official Notices: Bids will close on Friday, February 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. for three projects:
- 2026 Fire Station #5 HVAC Improvements
- 2026 Concrete Sidewalk Replacement – City Wide
- Davidson Road Utility and Street Improvements
- Davidson Road Boundaries: The project extends from Main Street east to the city limits (near Hillcrest Road and the elementary school). Base bid includes asphalt resurfacing on the west end and full reconstruction east of Hillcrest. The board clarified that the west end includes the cul-de-sac by the car dealer and residential properties.
- Sidewalk Replacement Cost: Staff clarified that the city no longer charges property owners a 4% administrative surcharge for sidewalk replacement; that only applies if an owner requests replacement of squares that do not meet condemnable criteria. The council recently approved paying for sidewalk replacement directly.
Meeting Transcript
Oh god. All right, we will begin with the Board of Public Works for January 22nd. Start with a roll call. Steve Cassins. Kevin Riley. Joel Piper. Eric Payne. We have staff on board. Thank you. And if everybody will please rise and face the high. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Not seeing any public comment. Sorry, trying to turn my mic on here. Uh 4A. This is the approval of minutes from January 8th for your review and approval. Payne moves. Piper seconds. Any questions or comments? See no take a voice. Vote. Cass's I. Kevin Riley, I piper I. Pay and I. Motion carries. Item 5A. 5A. This is to review an act on uh contract extension with United Liquid Waste for Biosolids hauling from the clean water plant. Um so back in 2023, we went out for quotes. Um and United Liquid Waste was the low bid, and uh they gave us rates for multiple years. Um all the rates were the same uh at 2750 per ton, so we'd like to extend the contract for another year at that same same rate. Umited liquid waste has done this work for us for for many years, done real well. They do all the reporting back to the DNR. Um so they've worked real well for us and uh done cheap work. So we'd recommend extending the contract for another year at the same rate they quoted in 2023. Piper seconds, I guess Zach, is there another company that does this work, or is this is this like it? Uh last time we bid out in 2023, I believe was this company and one other company that uh bid. So there's not probably just not a lot of folks that are in this kind of business. Right. I mean, there's a few companies, but um, like I said, there's only two that were just in their last bid. Okay. And does is it also a situation where that you need we need a company large enough that can just handle our capacity, the amount of work that we have for something like this? Right, and they're in contact with the local farmers. Um, so the farmers let them know when the fields are ready to have the biosolids applied. Okay. That's a very coordinated effort amongst United Waste and then the hall, you know, the DNR and also all the farmers. So they've got and the weather has to cooperate too. And the what yeah, I would imagine. Well, as an old farm kit, I would agree.
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