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Council declines further action after consultant finds no major defects in Iowa Street box culvert
Summary
After a consultant inspection and multiple tests, the city presented a report finding no significant defects in the box culvert on Iowa Street at West Seventh Avenue; council members said the city had done extensive testing and gave no further direction to pursue additional work.
The Oshkosh Common Council received a consultant report on June 24 that found no significant structural defects in the box culvert that encloses Stringham Creek under Iowa Street and West Seventh Avenue, and council members declined to authorize additional investigative work.
Public works staff said Ramble Americas and its subconsultants performed four types of tests, including remote-operated‑vehicle (ROV) inspection while the culvert was still underwater, dye testing, and electro‑connectivity testing. Staff summarized the work and told the council that the investigation “included several different types of tests” and that “there were no recommendations in the report for additional work to be done.”
Council members who spoke said the city had “gone above and beyond” to test the sewer and box culvert system and that the testing results indicate the storm sewer is performing as designed. Council member Larson said the city had already spent six figures on investigations and was unsure what additional tests would prove; Council member Beelow said he could not, “in good faith,” spend more public funds without a clear, likely solution.
Deputy Mayor Stevenson and others echoed those concerns and indicated there was no specific, credible next test or fix staff could point to. After discussion, the council gave no new direction to staff on additional action regarding the culvert; staff will not proceed with further work unless new evidence is presented or residents bring additional concerns.
The issue originated after residents reported basement flooding following reconstruction work in 2024; the council previously directed staff to hire a consultant to investigate. The consultant’s report is attached to the meeting record. Council members said they would continue to accept resident reports but will not authorize further city-funded testing based on the current report.
