Board of Public Works Meeting – April 23, 2026

The Board of Public Works of Waukesha, Wisconsin, convened on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 5:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. Members present: Kevin Riley, Joe Piper, and Eileen Micklitz. The meeting covered approvals of minutes and payments, review of three bids received, a contract change order for the Library HVAC project, and updates on upcoming bid notices and a local construction project.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (April 9, 2026): Motion by Ms. Piper, seconded, passed 3–0.
• Approval of Payments: Motion by Ms. Piper, seconded, passed 3–0. During discussion, staff clarified that funds for the South Street Ramp project (a 2025 project continuing into 2026) covered structural repairs, removal of glass block replaced with concrete block, and window/door replacement with Lexan (high-impact-resistant polymer).

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public offered comments.

Discussion Items

• Bid: Fire Station #5 HVAC Improvements (Rebid) – Three bids received; low bid from Helm Mechanical for $42,107. The bid was within the amended budget of $43,000 (funds transferred by administrator & finance director). Staff confirmed Helm Mechanical had previously worked for the city and references checked out. The rebid was necessary because the initial bid exceeded budget; the project was repackaged to fit the 2026 budget, deferring remaining work to a future year. Motion to approve passed 3–0.
• Bid: W. Sunset Dr. and Barstow St. Bridge Sealing and Rehabilitation – Two bids received; staff recommended NORCON Corporation's bid of $255,585.50 (base bid plus alternates) within the $300,000 budget. NORCON had completed similar work for the city. Motion to approve passed 3–0.
• Bid: Deer Trails and Fox Lake Village Pump Station Improvements – This bid was held because it came in slightly over the $277,000 budget. Staff stated they would confirm fund transfers from another project and bring the matter back at the next meeting.
• Contract Change Order No. 1 – Library HVAC Replacement Project (Lee Mechanical) – The change order, totaling just over $30,000, covered four additional work items discovered during construction: dampers, relief hoods, tying in the park bathroom (connected to the library HVAC), and ceiling temperature monitoring control panels. The project aimed to consolidate three different HVAC control systems into one building automation system. During discussion, board members questioned why the park bathroom tie-in (installed 3–4 years ago) wasn't originally scoped; staff explained that the existing setup was inefficient (exhaust air from conference rooms constantly dumped into bathrooms, bypassing unit heaters). The change order was approved 3–0.
• Matter of Report / Communications and Referrals: Staff announced upcoming bid notices closing May 8, 2026, for three projects: Greenway Terrace Playground Resilient Surface, Prairie Park and Banting Park Facility Upgrades, and 2026 Sanitary Sewer Lining.
• Prospect Avenue Construction Update: In response to a question from the board, staff reported that despite encountering more poor soils than expected and a week of heavy rain, the project remains on schedule. Sidewalk removals on Bidwell will begin soon, and the contractor has completed underground work ahead of target.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes and Payments approved (3–0).
• Fire Station #5 HVAC bid awarded to Helm Mechanical ($42,107) (3–0).
• W. Sunset/Barstow Bridge bid awarded to NORCON Corporation ($255,585.50) (3–0).
• Deer Trails/Fox Lake Pump Station bid held pending fund transfer approval.
• Library HVAC Change Order No. 1 approved (just over $30,000) (3–0).
• The board acknowledged and thanked outgoing member Alderman Eric Payne for over 20 years of service on the Board (informal recognition).
• The board welcomed new member Alderperson Eileen Micklitz to her first meeting.

The meeting adjourned without formal vote; all business completed.