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Council approves change order and separate design and study contracts for elevated water storage work
Summary
After DNR-driven changes delayed one contract, the council approved a change order for contract B on the elevated water storage tank, moved architectural/engineering work to a separate firm and approved a water storage capacity analysis to plan future storage and potential decommissioning.
The Common Council on Aug. 19 approved a change order for work on the city’s elevated water storage project and separately authorized professional services contracts to complete design integration and a water-system storage-capacity analysis.
Public works staff explained that contract A (already completed) and B were bid together, but Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) changes to contract A left contract B out of alignment. Council approved change order number 3 for Contract B in the amount of $19,963.31 to finish that portion of the project; the Board of Water Commissioners had approved the change earlier.
Separately, the council authorized a $25,000 professional services contract with Rooker and Mielke, Inc. to provide schematic programming and integration services that had been removed from the landmark construction contract, and a $34,304 contract with the same firm to conduct a water system storage capacity analysis. The council recorded motions and votes to adopt those resolutions.
Why this matters: council members said the city needs a clearer, long-term picture of storage needs and pressure zones to plan capital projects, ensure adequate fire flow and decide whether older tanks should be rehabilitated or decommissioned. The engineering director and council discussed the Drexel tower: officials said Drexel’s rehabilitation cost in 2012 approached a million dollars and that the tower — built in 1982 — is costly to maintain given its steel construction. The new tower uses a concrete pedestal, which typically requires less ongoing maintenance.
Council members asked whether the new tower and existing piping would support decommissioning the Drexel tank. Staff said current piping and contract work (including contract A and C) provide feed paths to the new structure and that a storage study will give recommendations on whether and when additional storage or another tower is required. The engineering director said the storage study is intended to inform future capital budget decisions and fire-protection planning.
Council action: motions to adopt the change order and to authorize the two professional services contracts were made and approved by voice vote.
Ending note: councilors directed staff to return with study results; the storage-capacity analysis will be used to evaluate future rehabilitation, potential decommissioning and the timing of capital work.
