Wausau Board of Public Works approves chiller replacement bid, lead-service work and prequalifies bidders for paving and parking projects

The Wausau Board of Public Works on April 22 approved several infrastructure items, including a recommendation to proceed with replacement of a chiller at the city’s public safety building, payment for lead-service-line replacements and a set of prequalified contractors for 2025 paving and downtown parking projects.

The board voted to approve the recommendation for the 2025 public safety building chiller replacement project, citing a total cost of $347,000. The approval is contingent on a budget modification for the additional project cost being approved by the Wausau City Council.

The vote to approve a payment to Community Infrastructure Partners for replacement of lead service lines for a 2025 project passed. The amount recorded in the meeting was $216,851.99; the board noted construction work related to the project has begun within the city.

Board members also approved contractor licenses and contractor-related items subject to post-meeting review by a board member. The licenses referenced in the meeting included SD Ellenbecker, B and D Plumbing and Heating, and BlackLine Asphalt Incorporated; motions approving those items were made subject to immediate review following the meeting.

The board convened a closed session under a statutory provision to consider prequalification statements for two 2025 projects: the asphalt paving project A and the downtown parking improvements project. The motion cited Section 19.85(b) of the Wisconsin Statutes as the authority for the closed session.

After returning to open session, the board approved the list of prequalified bidders for the 2025 asphalt paving project A, naming American Asphalt and RC Papers. It also approved a list of prequalified bidders for the 2025 downtown parking improvements project; the list recorded in the meeting included Earth Incorporated; Hassans Incorporated; Integrity Grading and Excavating; Norcon Corporation; Pembroke Companies; PGA Incorporated; The Trachys Construction; SD Ellenbecker; Switlik and Sons; Benton Construction Company; and Zignago.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of April 8 and April 10 meeting minutes — Outcome: approved (voice vote). - 2025 public safety building chiller replacement recommendation (total cost cited $347,000) — Outcome: approved, contingent on city council approval of a budget modification. - Payment No. 11 to Community Infrastructure Partners for lead service-line replacements (amount cited $216,851.99) — Outcome: approved. - Contractor/licenses (SD Ellenbecker; B and D Plumbing and Heating) — Outcome: approved subject to a board member’s immediate post-meeting review. - License/contractor item (BlackLine Asphalt Incorporated) — Outcome: approved subject to review. - Motion to go into closed session pursuant to Section 19.85(b), Wisconsin Statutes, to consider prequalification statements for 2025 asphalt paving project A and 2025 downtown parking improvements — Outcome: approved (closed session convened). - Prequalified bidders approved for 2025 asphalt paving project A (American Asphalt; RC Papers) — Outcome: approved. - Prequalified bidders approved for 2025 downtown parking improvements (Earth Incorporated; Hassans Incorporated; Integrity Grading and Excavating; Norcon Corporation; Pembroke Companies; PGA Incorporated; The Trachys Construction; SD Ellenbecker; Switlik and Sons; Benton Construction Company; Zignago) — Outcome: approved.

The board’s approvals were recorded by voice vote; the meeting audio transcribed repeated aye responses for each motion. Several approvals were explicitly made subject to a board member’s immediate review after the meeting. The chiller-replacement approval includes the explicit condition that the additional cost must be approved by the Wausau City Council before the project proceeds.

The board adjourned after completing the listed items.