The Kenosha Public Works Committee on Oct. 13 approved a series of routine contracts, project acceptances, resolutions and a development agreement affecting downtown and industrial-area public improvements.

The committee voted to authorize an encroachment agreement with the Kenosha Lakeshore Business Improvement District allowing decorative and holiday lighting attachments to city light poles and the Harbor Promenade, approved a rebid roof contract for the Uptown Library, accepted several completed public-works projects and approved a development agreement to extend Seventieth Avenue for industrial access. Committee members also approved a finance-committee resolution to move previously deferred special assessments to the active special assessment roll and a certified-survey map (free lot CSM) for a property on Fiftieth Street.

Those actions matter because they clear contracts and completed projects from the city’s work backlog, authorize repairs and public improvements in downtown and industrial areas, and prepare deferred assessments for collection on tax bills.

Most votes on the agenda items were voice votes with committee members saying “aye” when the chair called for approval. The minutes indicate the chair or the chair’s designee cast an affirmative vote in each case; no roll-call tallies with member-by-member yes/no counts were recorded in the meeting transcript provided.

Key approvals and acceptances

- Encroachment agreement with Kenosha Lakeshore Business Improvement District: The agreement consolidates earlier, separate permissions into a single agreement allowing the Downtown BID to attach span lighting across Sixth Avenue and install holiday lighting on the Harbor Promenade. Committee discussion was limited; staff reported the new document combines prior pole-attachment agreements and promenade permissions. The motion passed by voice vote.

- Uptown Library roof replacement (project rebid): The committee awarded the rebid contract to Gardner Company Incorporated in the amount of $71,200. Staff recommended approval. The motion passed by voice vote.

- Acceptance of completed projects: The committee accepted several projects as satisfactorily completed and approved final contract amounts: First Avenue resurfacing (project 24-104820) — Milan Contractors Inc., final contract $338,868.74; tree removal (project 24-1416) — Homer Tree Service Inc., final contract $184,019; Horizon Park development (project 24-1435) — Stuckey Construction Company, final contract $1,187,912.92; joint crack cleaning and sealing (project 25-1019) — Denler Inc., final contract $115,775.76. Staff reported no issues with the completed work and recommended acceptance.

- Resolution to transfer deferred special assessments to the active assessment role: The finance committee brought a resolution to place previously deferred assessments back on the active assessment roll so they can be included on tax bills; staff indicated these items came from the clerk’s department. The motion passed by voice vote.

- Certified survey map (free lot CSM) for property bounded by Fiftieth Street, 40 Seventh Ave. and 50 Second Ave.: Staff said the planning commission had unanimously approved the map. The committee approved the mayor’s resolution to accept the CSM for redevelopment purposes.

- Development agreement (city, Kenosha Water Utility, Schultz Container Systems Inc.): The committee approved a development agreement to construct public improvements — including an extension of Seventieth Avenue into the industrial park and associated stormwater work — related to a Schultz Container Systems property north of 40 Sixth Street. Staff said the item also appeared on the water commission agenda and recommended approval. The motion passed by voice vote.

What the meeting did not show

The transcript does not include detailed roll-call vote tallies for any item. The record shows routine motions, seconding and unanimous or near-unanimous voice votes; it does not record any “no” votes, abstentions or motions to table those items. No member-level vote record was provided in the transcript excerpt.

Next steps and context

Most approved contracts either move work forward (new contracts and development agreement) or close out projects by formally accepting completed work. The development agreement includes stormwater and water-utility elements that the staff said are also on the Kenosha Water Utility agenda. The certified survey map was reported as previously approved by the planning commission.

Votes at a glance: (per transcript)
- Encroachment agreement with Kenosha Lakeshore BID — approved (motion and voice vote).
- Uptown Library roof replacement (Gardner Company Inc.) — contract awarded, $71,200 — approved.
- Acceptance: First Avenue resurfacing (Milan Contractors Inc.) — final $338,868.74 — accepted.
- Acceptance: Tree removal (Homer Tree Service Inc.) — final $184,019 — accepted.
- Acceptance: Horizon Park development (Stuckey Construction Co.) — final $1,187,912.92 — accepted.
- Acceptance: Joint crack cleaning/sealing (Denler Inc.) — final $115,775.76 — accepted.
- Resolution (finance committee): transfer deferred special assessments to active role — approved.
- Resolution (mayor): approve free-lot certified survey map (Fiftieth St. area) — approved.
- Development agreement (city / Kenosha Water Utility / Schultz Container Systems Inc.) for Seventieth Ave. extension and stormwater work — approved.

Meeting context: The committee conducted routine business with limited discussion on most items. Staff presenters summarized prior approvals (planning commission, parks committee or water commission) where applicable and recommended approval for contracts and acceptances. No contested or substantive policy debates were recorded in the transcript for the items above.

Ending note: The committee’s approvals complete procurement or close-out steps for several capital projects and authorize public-improvement work intended to support downtown events, library maintenance and industrial access.