Oshkosh council hears updates on 2026 capital improvement program, priorities narrowed for Oct. 28 action

Oshkosh City Council members and staff on Oct. 15 reviewed the proposed 2026 Capital Improvement Program and updates on major ongoing utility and street projects, directing staff to present the CIP for council consideration at the Oct. 28 meeting with the pedestrian bridge held for a later public hearing and workshop.

City staff highlighted several near-term schedules: bids for the Clearwell replacement will go out in November with a bid award expected to return to council in January 2026; the tertiary filtration and phosphorus removal project at the wastewater treatment plant is in 60–90% design and is scheduled for bidding in February 2026 with a March 2026 award; and staff recommended adding ultraviolet (UV) disinfection to replace gaseous chlorine at the wastewater plant and advancing that work in tandem with the tertiary filtration project.

The UV disinfection addition was presented as a public-safety measure tied to risk management at the wastewater plant. Staff said gaseous chlorine currently presents a significant community risk because a 1.3-mile radius around the plant would be affected in the event of a leak, a zone that includes portions of downtown, Lourdes, Oshkosh West and the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. James, a city staff member leading the presentation, said the fire department’s hazardous-materials team was enthusiastic about removing that risk and advised adding the UV project into the CIP while doing the filtration work.

Staff also briefed the council on other utility and infrastructure items: replacing an outdated automated water-meter test bench that must meet Public Service Commission…