Waukesha Water Commission Meeting – July 16, 2026

The Waukesha Water Commission met at 6:00 PM on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in the Water Utility Conference Room at 115 Delafield St., Waukesha, Wisconsin. The meeting covered routine approvals, several action items involving contracts and change orders, informational updates on operations and finances, and a closed session to discuss performance evaluation of the General Manager position. All action items were passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made. The chair stated "I deny everything" in jest and moved on.

Action Items

• Approval of Minutes (June 18, 2026) – Approved unanimously.
• Payments from General Fund and Improvement Fund (June Voucher List) – Approved unanimously. A commissioner inquired about a UW‑Park site billing; staff confirmed it is a monthly charge for sampling, and that UW is not planning to exit that work.
• Classification and Compensation Study – Cottingham & Butler ($20,000 max) – Approved unanimously. Staff explained that two vendors responded; Cottingham & Butler was selected because they had more public‑sector benefits data and all references provided rave reviews. The study will ensure job classifications are market‑aligned, update job descriptions, and refine compensation strategy.
• Change Order for New Operations Center Plumbing – Miron Construction ($46,273.78) – Approved unanimously. The change order adds backflow prevention for hose reels and a pressure‑reducing valve (due to over 80 PSI), items not included in the original bid. The project remains within budget.
• Water Main Replacement Contract for Luke, Born, and Walton Reconstruction – Musson Brothers, Inc. ($946,055.64 including 1% city admin fee) – Approved unanimously. Three bids were received and opened June 26; the project was previously discussed in March due to breaks on Luke Street. The work includes looping a dead‑end main from Bourne to Walton.
• Water Main Extension and Developer’s Agreement for Country Crest Lane (no cost to Utility) – Approved unanimously. The developer (David Smart) requested a 550 ft of 8‑inch PVC and 320 ft of 12‑inch PVC to extend water main, with a standard 12‑month developer’s agreement.

Information Items

• New Operations Center Update – The office portion has windows installed and drywall patching underway; painting will begin soon. The garage floor concrete is in place. Occupancy is expected in fall 2026.
• Utility Performance Report / Administrative Activities –
  • Litigation update: Depositions for a lawsuit against S.J. Lewis are nearly complete; expert reports will follow. A final scheduling conference is sought due to limited communication from S.J. Lewis’s attorney. A tentative mediation date at end of October is possible.
  • The Public Service Commission (PSC) approved a request to pause the pending rate case, which is good news; staff will now work to avoid needing to update data if the pause is brief.
  • Well abandonment: Pumps have been removed from wells 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13. Pea gravel is being placed in wells 5 and 12; well 5 was historically dynamited, making it difficult to verify fill levels—a 60% contingency was bid.
  • Lead and copper sampling is underway; commissioners were reminded to participate.
  • First round of interviews for the General Manager position have been completed.
  • Construction crews are replacing valves and hydrants, and completed a small relay on Mill Reserve. The city is also paving after water work.
• Financial Report (June 2026) –
  • Revenue is above budget due to an extra two days in the billing cycle and hot/dry weather increasing water usage. A meter issue at a pool fill will be corrected next month.
  • Expenses: Source of supply is over budget due to higher Milwaukee Waterworks invoices (more water sold). Treatment is under budget by about $5,900 due to reclassifying a Jacobs invoice. Distribution is under budget because crews are focused on capital projects.
  • Cash position: began June at $53.4 million, ended at $54.3 million. A $1.5 million Wi‑Fi submittal is for construction costs of the operations center.
  • Transmission/distribution projects: Arrowhead Trail easement work continues; Highway 59 offsets near completion; Davidson Road water main finished; William Street likely pushed to 2027; Bidwell/Prospect complete; resurfacing projects on schedule.

Closed Session

• A motion was made and seconded to convene in closed session under Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(c) to discuss employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation of the General Manager. Roll call: Commissioners Frankeur (aye), Fowell (aye), Pyatt (aye), Holvensleben (aye); Curry, Matthews, and Bartels absent. The closed session was held. The commission then reconvened in open session and reported no business to act upon. The meeting was adjourned.

Key Outcomes

• All five action items were approved unanimously (no votes recorded against or abstentions).
• The PSC granted a pause on the rate case; next steps depend on the timeline of Milwaukee’s rate decision.
• A closed session was held regarding the General Manager position; no action was taken afterward.
• Well abandonment and construction projects are progressing on schedule.