_05072026-1305

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE – 5/07/2026 Meeting (Meets monthly on 1st Thursday at 5 p.m.) Page 1 of 4 *Attended virtually PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MINUTES May 7, 2026 Regular Meeting The meeting was called to order by Councilor Ledin at 5:04 p.m. on May 7, 2026, in Government Center Room 204. COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Nick Ledin, Garner Moffat, Tylor Elm, Joe Radtke (alt.) 1. ROLL CALL Members Present: Nick Ledin, Garner Moffat, Tylor Elm, Joe Radtke City Staff Present: Chris Carlson, Kara Czapinski, Jim Paine, Dave Pollock, Others Present: Brent Gunderson, Shelley Nelson, Dan Olson, Bill Fennessy, Jeff Goetzman 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2.1. Public Works Committee (Meeting held April 2, 2026) MOTION by Moffat, second by Elm and carried to approve the minutes from April 2, 2026. 3. OLD BUSINESS 3.1. Discussion of a report submitted by Raftelis Financial Consultants evaluating the acquisition of utilities operated by Superior, Water, Light & Power. Mayor Paine reported that there have been no major updates since the last meeting concerning the evaluation by Raftelis Financial consultants on the acquisition of utilities, and this topic will continue to be a regular agenda item for updates. He announced plans for a series of public information sessions, including town halls and informal debates, to communicate findings to the public, with an initial emphasis on the water utility due to the complexities and incomplete nature of the electric and gas reports. Paine noted that the acquisitions of electric and gas utilities are more intricate than that of water, citing factors such as supply sources, the scale of the network, and infrastructure that extends beyond city boundaries, which contribute to a longer timeline for the final reports. The committee deliberated on whether to conduct joint or separate public meetings for all three utilities, with Paine underscoring the importance of obtaining council input and additional information before making any recommendations. 3.2. Recommendation to approve Chapter 58, Article IV Recyclable Waste Materials Ordinance revisions. Director Carlson indicated that the revisions to the ordinance clearly specify that polystyrene foam is not recyclable and detail which plastic numbers are excluded, thereby ensuring the city's recycling program complies with state regulations. These modifications primarily serve to clarify existing documentation and do not change the current recycling practices. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE – 5/07/2026 Meeting (Meets monthly on 1st Thursday at 5 p.m.) Page 2 of 4 *Attended virtually MOTION by Elm, second by Moffat and carried to approve Chapter 58, Article IV Recyclable Waste Materials Ordinance revisions. 4. NEW BUSINESS 4.1. Election of Officers 4.1.1. Election of Chair MOTION by Elm, second by Moffat and carried to nominate Nick Ledin as Chair. 4.1.2. Election of Vice-Chair MOTION by Ledin, second by Elm and carried to nominate Garner Moffat as Vice-Chair. 4.2. Recommendation to award the Woodstock Sanitary Sewer Improvements project to Pember Companies for $678,221.60. Dave Pollock indicated that the project entails the replacement of approximately 1,800 linear feet of deteriorating sanitary sewer across four segments. This initiative faces several challenges, including narrow streets, limited right-of-way, and the need to maintain traffic flow. MSA Professional Services has proposed a trenchless pipe bursting method, which is advantageous for minimizing pavement disruption and is well-suited to the area's clay soils and curved sewer alignments. During discussions, members expressed concerns regarding the choice between patching small pavement areas and implementing full overlays. Staff clarified that any patched sections would be restored to meet city standards, with the possibility of future overlays if necessary. The committee also reviewed competitive bids and noted that the chosen contractor employs a different subcontractor for the pipe bursting process. Staff assured that this subcontractor has a history of satisfactory performance, alleviating any concerns about the selection. The new pipes are anticipated to have a lifespan of 50 years or more, significantly improving upon the original infrastructure, which dates back to the 1920s, and building on recent sewer replacements in the vicinity following previous collapses. MOTION by Elm, second by Moffat and carried to award the Woodstock Sanitary Sewer Improvements project to Pember Companies for $678,221.60. Bill Fennessey left the meeting at 5:22 p.m. 4.3. Recommendation to award Sanitary Sewer Televising Services 2026 Sanitary District 1 & 2 to Absolute Pipe for $37,488.00. Pollock indicated that the regulations set by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources mandate an annual inspection of 7.2 miles of sewer lines, with a comprehensive review required every ten years across all districts. This particular contract pertains to a section that is due for inspection and is also affected by forthcoming bridge construction. The committee PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE – 5/07/2026 Meeting (Meets monthly on 1st Thursday at 5 p.m.) Page 3 of 4 *Attended virtually deliberated on the possibility of conducting these inspections internally; however, staff highlighted that only minor, reactive inspections are feasible in-house due to constraints related to equipment and staffing. MOTION by Moffat, second by Ledin and carried to award Sanitary Sewer Televising Services 2026 Sanitary District 1 & 2 to Absolute Pipe for $ 37,488.00. 4.4. Recommendation to award the 2026 Sidewalk Replacement contract to Duluth Concrete LLC. for $270,816.15. Director Carlson announced that the contract encompasses sidewalk replacements throughout the city, focusing on key connections at Hill Avenue and Henry Cohen Drive, along with enhancements to bus stop accessibility. The selection of sidewalks for replacement is based on their condition ratings, the need to close gaps, prioritization of high- traffic areas, and feedback from the public. Residents are encouraged to report any sidewalk issues for evaluation. Additionally, a separate initiative will tackle tripping hazards by grinding down uneven sidewalk edges, particularly in the Tower Avenue vicinity, with a contractor set to undertake this work during the summer. MOTION by Elm, second by Moffat and carried to award the 2026 Sidewalk Replacement contract to Duluth Concrete LLC. for $270,816.15. Brett Gunderson left the meeting at 5:27 p.m. 4.5. Recommendation to approve the revised State Municipal Financial Agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the 2032 Tower Avenue Improvement project from N64th Street to Belknap Street. Director Carlson announced that the 2032 project encompasses a mill and overlay, concrete repairs, sidewalk replacements, and upgrades to traffic signals, with the agreement subject to ongoing modifications as design specifics are finalized. This state-managed initiative will see the Department of Transportation oversee the bidding and construction phases, while the city will bear certain expenses related to parking lanes, sidewalks, and landscaping, with cost distributions being adjusted as the project evolves. Public feedback highlighted worries about the worsening condition of roads and the possibility of accelerating repairs ahead of bridge closures. City staff addressed these concerns, outlining the difficulties in hastening the work and the potential for transferring financial burdens from the state to the city. Mayor Paine acknowledged that an interim project could be feasible if conditions deteriorate further, but emphasized that it would necessitate prioritization and budget adjustments from the council, noting that the city has previously undertaken similar projects when required. MOTION by Moffat, second by Elm and carried to approve the revised State Municipal Financial Agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the 2032 Tower Avenue Improvement project from N64th Street to Belknap Street. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE – 5/07/2026 Meeting (Meets monthly on 1st Thursday at 5 p.m.) Page 4 of 4 *Attended virtually 4.6. Recommendation to approve the State Municipal Agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for Carbon Reduction Program funding to support Emergency Vehicle Preemption. Director Carlson announced that the city has secured a grant from the Carbon Reduction Program, which will cover the materials needed for Emergency Vehicle Preemption at 21 intersections. The city will finance the installation of the required signal equipment. This arrangement will guarantee full preemption for police and fire vehicles, with secondary priority access granted to transit and other eligible vehicles. MOTION by Elm, second by Moffat and carried to approve the State Municipal Agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for Carbon Reduction Program funding to support Emergency Vehicle Preemption. 4.7. Notice of Surplus Equipment Auction Sales. – Received and filed. 5. RECURRING BUSINESS 5.1 ESD Director’s Update – Received and filed. ESD successfully managed a significant rainfall event without any overflows, thanks to efficient emergency operations and infrastructure management. The primary concern arose at Elm St., where a deteriorating culvert led to localized flooding. Plans are in place to replace this culvert in the upcoming budget cycle to mitigate future issues. Director Update – 5.1.1 Bids for the replacement of lead service lines in the Midtown area are due May 8th. This project operates under a tight schedule, necessitating direct approval from the council by May 31st to meet grant stipulations. 5.1.2 Tower Avenue, situated between Belknap Street and North 28th Street, is progressing well ahead of the planned overlay. The plan is to have the contractor address the lead service line installation before proceeding with this work. 5.2 Future Agenda Items 5.2.1 Discuss Water Utility Acquisition 5.3 Confirm the next meeting date as June 4, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. in Room 204 of the Government Center. 6 ADJOURNMENT Councilor Ledin announced the meeting adjourned at 6:01 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Kara Czapinski