Brown Deer public works details 2025 projects; utility staff urge multi-year water-main replacement plan

Public works and utility staff presented a strategic update May 5 outlining major projects for 2025 and a multi-year plan to address aging water infrastructure.

Matthew (public works staff) reviewed 2024 accomplishments and said 2025 will be a heavy construction year with work scheduled on 10 Mile Park and its pond and concession building, the large North 50 First Street reconstruction (expected June start and mid-October completion), and Beaver Creek restoration (fall construction). He said Village Hall parking-lot reconstruction will be bid as a phased fall project and that the First Citizens Bank demolition procurement produced multiple bids; a contractor award is expected to be presented at a future meeting.

Matthew also reviewed localized concerns including a recent water-main break on Bradley Road that will be patched and the need to coordinate major joint projects such as Sherman Boulevard, which Milwaukee County plans to reconstruct in 2026. He described other ongoing items such as refuse contract renewal, pavement programs and stormwater work.

A utility staff member presented the water utility's long-term financial and capital priorities. The speaker said the water utility has been averaging about $300,000 per year in main replacements and recommended increasing that to about $900,000 annually to make progress on older mains. "We have been averaging about $300,000 a year in water-main replacement. We want to really bump that up to close to $900,000 a year," the utility speaker said, adding that the goal is to replace roughly 1% of the system per year and spread replacements over multiple decades to avoid sharp rate spikes.

Staff described a village lift station in the northwest corner that has shown pump problems and said replacing only the pumps would cost about $75,000; the village plans to include the lift station in the capital improvement plan for more comprehensive work. Staff also noted opportunities to improve pedestrian safety at the 60th Street and Dean intersection, continuing work on Bradley Road with the City of Milwaukee, and seeking state and county grants for green infrastructure on the village parking lot project.

Board members asked detailed scheduling and cost questions. Staff said many projects are phased to limit disruptions and that public information meetings and direct notices to affected residents are planned, including a May 19 public information meeting for the North 50 First Street project.