The Board of Public Works unanimously approved a slate of pay estimates and change orders for ongoing public-works projects and then voted to enter closed session to deliberate claims.
Key approvals: Speaker 1 introduced and the board approved by voice vote the following items after staff presentations and staff recommendations:
- Pay Estimate No. 2 for the 2025 public safety building chiller replacement (Tweed Garrett Mechanical) — $146,870; staff (Leo) reviewed work completion; motion moved by Speaker 1 and seconded by Speaker 2.
- Washington Street Siphon Replacement Project Change Order No. 2 — $7,862.40. Speaker 4 explained that subsurface conditions differed from pre-construction borings (rubble debris encountered during directional drilling), requiring different machinery and additional mobilization; the board approved the change order by voice vote.
- Washington Street Siphon Replacement Project Pay Estimate No. 2 (recommended by Bridal Pettit) — $148,088.56; approved by voice vote.
- 2025 Street Construction Project B (Fulton, 1st, 2nd) Change Order No. 3 — $40,128 for permit administrative work and insurance required for right-of-way work; approved by voice vote.
- 2025 Street Construction Project B, Pay Estimate No. 7 — final payment and retainage reduction to $10,000, pay estimate $182,344.82; board approved and will review restoration in spring.
- Washington Street retaining wall Pay Estimate No. 1 (Yankee General Contractors) — $25,595.85 for material purchases stored on site; railroad permitting delayed construction until spring; approved by voice vote.
- 2025 pavement marking final payment to Brickline Incorporated — $6,394.92; approved by voice vote.
After these routine approvals, Speaker 2 moved to go into closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(g) to deliberate on claims; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Speaker 2 noted, "I have 1 claim, a separate claim for your union," indicating at least one personnel/union-related claim to be discussed in closed session.
What this means: The board advanced payment for multiple infrastructure projects, enabling contractor payments and, in at least one case, holdback for spring restoration. The closed-session vote signals pending claim deliberations; details were not discussed in open session.
The board adjourned open-session business at the motion to enter closed session.