Wausau Board of Public Works approves warranty extension, contract amendment and multiple construction payments

The Wausau Board of Public Works approved a contractor request to extend a warranty for two 2022 street projects, authorized an amendment to an engineering agreement for trail construction oversight and approved several pay estimates and a change order covering downtown parking, street work and a lift-station replacement.

Board members voted on the package of items during their meeting; motions to approve were made and seconded and recorded as "Aye." The approvals include two large payments tied to the city’s lead service line replacement work and several contractor pay estimates for 2025 street and downtown projects.

Staff reported that Samson, the contractor for the 2022 Street construction projects A (Bugbee Avenue, Birick Avenue, Campus Drive) and C (Tourney Avenue), requested an extension of the three-year warranty window so the company could perform required repairs early next spring. A staff member said the projects showed “quite a bit of concrete failure” and that Samson asked for more cure time, arguing “they think that part of the failure was due to salt being added to the concrete because it was poured late.” Staff recommended extending the warranty to February 2026; the board approved the extension.

The board also approved an amendment to the agreement with MSA for construction administration and observation on the 70 Second Avenue Trail South Extension. Staff explained the contract included a lump-sum engineering fee and a time-and-materials component for on-site observation. Because the contractor began work about a month earlier than MSA’s schedule, on-site observation time exceeded the original estimate. The amendment adds $2,647.80 to cover those costs, a change the board approved.

Two pay estimates for Community Infrastructure Partners were approved as the city begins reimbursable construction work on lead service line replacement. Staff identified the payments as $800,464.64 and $421,416.45 for work on about 251 service lines. Staff said the city will “upfront” these costs and seek reimbursement after a loan closing scheduled for Nov. 26 (year not specified) tied to the 2025 project.

The board approved a $6,168 change order (Change Order No. 1) for the downtown parking improvements contract with Hassans Incorporated to add clearing previously expected to be completed by city crews and to install a pull box to support possible future lighting in the corridor.

Other payments approved included Pay Estimate No. 1 for the 2025 downtown parking improvements (Hassans Incorporated), $248,475.70; Pay Estimate No. 6 for 2025 Street Construction Project A (Randolph Street, Cherry Street — Hassans Incorporated), $1,143,805.85; Pay Estimate No. 6 for 2025 Street Construction Project B (Fulton Street, First Street, Second Street — Switlik and Sons), $177,309.82; and Pay Estimate No. 1 for Cherry Street lift-station replacement (Integrity Grading & Excavating), $360,145. Staff noted the Cherry Street pay estimate had been reviewed on-site by consultant Clark Dietz; a staff member confirmed a Clark Dietz representative (Diane) had approved the work.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes for the Sept. 23 meeting — motion passed (recorded as "Aye"). - Warranty extension for 2022 Street construction projects A and C to Feb. 2026 — approved. - Amendment with MSA adding $2,647.80 for 70 Second Avenue Trail South Extension observation — approved. - Pay estimates to Community Infrastructure Partners: $800,464.64 and $421,416.45 for lead service line replacement (about 251 lines) — approved. - Change Order No. 1 for downtown parking improvements (Hassans Incorporated), $6,168 — approved. - Pay Estimate No. 1, 2025 downtown parking improvements (Hassans Incorporated), $248,475.70 — approved. - Pay Estimate No. 6, 2025 Street Construction Project A (Hassans Incorporated), $1,143,805.85 — approved. - Pay Estimate No. 6, 2025 Street Construction Project B (Switlik and Sons), $177,309.82 — approved. - Pay Estimate No. 1, Cherry Street lift-station replacement (Integrity Grading & Excavating), $360,145 — approved.

Discussion and context Board discussion on the warranty extension focused on timing and product quality. Staff said the contractor prefers to perform repairs in early spring because workers are booked late in the season and the contractor expects a better concrete cure if repairs are done earlier; staff recommended the extension to Feb. 2026. On the MSA amendment, staff said the contractor’s earlier start increased on-site observation hours beyond the engineer’s schedule, leading to the modest increase.

On the lead service line payments, staff said this was the first construction payment for the 2025 replacement program; the city will pay the invoices now and seek reimbursement after a loan closing scheduled for Nov. 26 (year not specified).

The downtown change order was explained as a timing/coordination issue: trees originally slated for removal by city crews were instead removed by the contractor to keep work moving. The pull box was added to allow future lighting to be connected without additional trenching.

The meeting concluded after recording the final approvals and a motion to adjourn.

Ending All motions relating to these items were approved by voice vote and recorded as "Aye." The board adjourned following the approvals.