Public Works Committee — Minutes

City of Pewaukee W240 N3065 Pewaukee Road Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, June 11, 2026 In Attendance: Mayor Steve Bierce, Alderman Jerry Wamser, Michael Kreiter, Jim Blackwood Also In Attendance: Director of Public Works M. Wagner, Chief Engineer-Utilities R. Wirtz, City Engineer M. Gabbey, Utility Manager J. Mueller, Utility Assistant Manager R. Kincaid, Utility Billing Specialist R. Reed 1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Bierce called the Public Works Committee Meeting to order at 4:00 PM. All present were invited to rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. Public Comment - Please limit your comments to two minutes. If further time for discussion is needed, please contact your District Alderperson prior to the meeting. No public comment was recorded. 3. Discussion and Action Regarding the Minutes 3.1 Discussion and possible action to adopt Apr 23, 2026 meeting minutes Motion was made and seconded (M. Kreiter, J. Blackwood) to approve the April 23, 2026, meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously. 4. Water and Sewer Division 4.1 Discussion and possible action regarding Well #8 PFAS Pilot Study [Mueller/Kincaid] Ms. Mueller presented the findings of the yearlong PFAS pilot study conducted at Well #8. She provided background, noting that Well #8 is situated within a residential subdivision and that a primary design constraint throughout the study was finding a treatment solution that could fit within the existing building footprint or be constructed as an addition consistent with the character of the surrounding neighborhood. The study concluded that an anion exchange system is the preferred treatment technology for PFAS removal and would fit within the existing two-car and single-car garage space, with excavation of the garage floor planned to accommodate the treatment tanks. Ms. Mueller noted that anion exchange is the most proven technology for PFAS removal and that the Village of Pewaukee and other communities across the state, including West Bend, employ similar systems. A significant challenge identified during the pilot study was iron buildup within the anion exchange media. Iron competes with PFAS for surface area on the media, reducing treatment effectiveness. The proposed solution involves adding an iron- removal pre-treatment step with aeration to oxidize and remove iron before the water reaches the PFAS treatment system. Mr. Kincaid noted that the utility draws between 500 and 580 gallons per minute, making iron accumulation far more pronounced than what a typical private well homeowner would experience. Updated cost estimates, developed in consultation with the City's engineering consultants on the day of the meeting, placed the total project cost at $3,540,000 for the Well #8 location alone, revised upward from an earlier preliminary estimate of approximately $2,000,000. Equipment and most of the mechanical work account for approximately $2,440,000, with the remainder covering contingencies, engineering, planning, and fees. Notable cost drivers include the need for helical piers due to the site's filled soil conditions, upgraded well pumps and electrical systems, steel treatment vessels and piping, and an 11,000-gallon holding tank (estimated at $300,000) required to manage backwash discharge at a rate that would otherwise exceed the existing sewer system's capacity. Committee Member Blackwood inquired whether granular activated carbon (GAC) might offer a more cost-effective alternative given the updated price. Mr. Kincaid indicated that GAC is a less proven technology for PFAS removal; specifically, it carries greater mechanical complexity, and while early estimates had suggested it might be approximately $1,000,000 less expensive for the treatment system alone, that figure did not account for the additional building construction costs that would be required. Additional staffing demands for operating a GAC system were also noted as a disadvantage. The committee discussed the broader PFAS situation across the City's well system. Ms. Mueller noted that Well #12 also exceeds PFAS limits but produces only 125 gallons per minute, making a $3.5 million treatment investment difficult to justify. Instead, the City is exploring abandoning Well #12 and drilling a new deep well (Well #13) at the same location to leverage the existing reservoir infrastructure and blend treated water. Ms. Mueller also acknowledged that two other shallow wells show small PFAS detections that have not yet triggered DNR action and that PFAS concentrations at Well #8 have been observed to increase with higher pumping rates, as the contaminant migrates through the aquifer. The source of PFAS contamination in the area remains unidentified. Ms. Mueller noted that while an investigation might theoretically narrow the source, given that two City wells and a Village of Pewaukee well within approximately one mile of each other are all affected, the cost and complexity of such an investigation would be substantial and are viewed as more appropriately the responsibility of the DNR or EPA. The committee moved to forward the item to the full Council for review. Motion to forward the Well #8 PFAS Pilot Study to the Common Council was made by Alderperson Wamser and seconded by J. Blackwood. The motion carried unanimously. 4.2 Discussion and possible action regarding the 2025 Annual Consumer Confidence Report [Mueller/Kincaid] Ms. Mueller presented the 2025 Annual Consumer Confidence Report, which is mandated annually by the EPA and DNR for municipal water systems, with a July 1 deadline. Ms. Mueller noted that beginning in 2027, the report will be required to be posted twice per year. The report addresses water quality and includes notice of PFAS, radium, and gross alpha contamination, which are also communicated to customers via quarterly utility bill inserts. The City transitioned in the prior year from a special mailer and hand-delivery program to posting the report on the City website, reducing costs while remaining in compliance, with paper copies available upon request. Motion to forward the 2025 Annual Consumer Confidence Report to the Common Council was made by J. Blackwood and seconded by M. Kreiter. The motion carried unanimously. 4.3 Discussion and possible action regarding the 2025 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report [Mueller/Kincaid] Ms. Mueller presented the 2025 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report, the annual DNR report for the City's sanitary sewer system. The report received an "A" grade. Ms. Mueller noted that the DNR flagged the need for a sewer rate review, as only the first phase of the required rate study has been completed. The committee was informed that it should expect a presentation from Ehlers by the end of the year with a recommendation for updated sewer rates. It was noted that the DNR requires a rate review every two years, and failure to complete it results in a 20-point deduction, which would drop the City's grade from an "A" to a "C," triggering additional reporting obligations. Motion to forward the 2025 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report to the Common Council was made by J. Blackwood and seconded by M. Kreiter. The motion carried unanimously. 4.4 Discussion and Possible Action regarding Adoption of Sewer Ordinance Chapter 3XX Ms. Mueller presented a draft of the updated Sanitary Sewer Ordinance, noting that the current version dates to approximately 1996 and was inherited from the former town sanitary district. The update modernizes the ordinance's language, format, and regulatory references and ensures alignment with the ordinances of the City of Brookfield and the City of Waukesha, both of which receive the City's wastewater for treatment. Particular attention was given to industrial and non-residential users, who must comply with the receiving municipalities' pretreatment requirements. The draft also establishes clearer enforcement provisions for properties that have not connected to the municipal sewer system within the required 15-year window, including a standby fee of 150 percent of the quarterly sewer bill (currently $211.50 per quarter) and a process for the City to enter a property and make the connection if necessary. The final section is being completed by the City Attorney prior to the ordinance being submitted for adoption. The ordinance is scheduled for its first reading before the Common Council on the following Monday, with the second reading and adoption expected in July. Motion to forward Sewer Ordinance Chapter 3XX to the Common Council was made by M. Kreiter and seconded by J. Blackwood. The motion carried unanimously. 4.5 Discussion and possible action regarding Mandatory Sewer Connections on Various Assessment Districts [Wagner/Mueller] Ms. Wagner presented an overview of assessment districts where the 15-year mandatory sewer connection deadline has been reached, is imminent, or will arrive within the next few years. The affected areas include Rolling Ridge/Arrowhead (approximately 20–25 properties not yet connected), Green Road (approximately five properties), Duplainville Road, Still River/Bluemound Road (the largest group, with the deadline expiring in August 2026), and Valley View/Sunny Ridge. The committee was informed that the City will be sending formal notices to property owners in these districts, allowing one year from the date of the letter to complete their connection. Following that period, the standby fee of $211.50 per quarter will be assessed to properties that remain unconnected. Staff acknowledged that some residents, particularly along Bluemound Road, where the developer was not required to install sewer laterals, will face elevated connection costs, as those properties will likely need to bore under the recently repaved roadway due to a five-year pavement disruption restriction. The committee was advised to anticipate some constituent pushback and potential inquiries to both staff and the Council. Mrs. Wagner emphasized that the mandatory connection policy has been in place for more than 20 years and that consistent enforcement is now necessary. Alderperson Jerry Wamser abstained from the vote, citing his residence within one of the affected areas. Motion to forward the mandatory sewer connection policy and associated notices to the Common Council was made by M. Kreiter and seconded by J. Blackwood. The motion carried, with one abstention by Alderperson Wamser. 5. Highway Division 5.1 Discussion and possible action regarding whether to continue battery recycling at the DPW Recycling Center. [Stevens] The discussion regarding whether to continue battery recycling at the DPW Recycling Center was postponed because staff member Matt Stevens, who was set to present, was not present. The discussion will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting that Matt Stevens is in attendance. 6. Public Comment - Please limit your comments to two minutes. If further time for discussion is needed, please contact your District Alderperson prior to the meeting. No public comment was recorded. 7. Adjournment A motion to adjourn was made by M. Kreiter and seconded by Alderperson Wamser. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 4:47 pm. Respectfully Submitted Magdelene Wagner Director of Public Works