Franklin City committee recommends $501,977 Saint Martin's Road water-main contract to common council

A Franklin City committee recommended that the common council approve a $501,977 contract with Global Contractors to extend a water main on West Saint Martin Road, a staff member said during the meeting.

The recommendation matters because the work is tied to an upcoming Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) road project; officials said doing the water work now avoids later re-digging the road and could reduce overall cost for the city and property owners. The committee’s recommendation will go to the council, which must follow a multi-step special-assessment process before any assessments are levied on property owners.

Committee discussion and staff presentation focused on bids, timing and the special-assessment process. A staff member said bids received last Thursday were “competitive” and that the lowest responsible bidder is the required award under state law. The committee was told the complete project cost with services is $501,977 and that staff’s recommendation was to forward that award to the common council for final action.

John Nelson, mayor, who spoke briefly during the discussion, said residents had expressed concern about assessments and timing. “Is it gonna go on the backs of 16 residents? Not on my watch,” Nelson said, noting residents on West Saint Martin Road had raised questions at an informational meeting. Staff said about 16 houses are in the affected area and that an open house the prior evening drew roughly six residents.

A city attorney (name not specified) summarized required procedures: if the council decides to finance the work by special assessment, the council must adopt a preliminary resolution, the city engineer must prepare a report with detailed information, notices go to affected property owners, and a public hearing is held before any final assessment is adopted. The city attorney also noted that state procurement law requires awarding public-works contracts over $25,000 to the lowest “responsible” bidder.

City staff and an attendee identified only as Kevin said WisDOT held its first public information meeting in June 2022 and intends to set a second public information meeting in mid-March; staff said the DOT’s plans would be posted online when ready. Staff told the committee the broader road and utility work should be completed this fall if schedules hold.

Committee members asked about the city’s special-assessment policy; speakers noted the ordinance has been on the books for years, with one remark that the last formal update was in 1998 and another statement that it had been updated this year. The committee emphasized that the recommendation before them begins the special-assessment process rather than imposing final assessments.

After discussion, the committee chair moved to recommend the award to Global Contractors for $501,977 and a member seconded the motion. The committee approved the recommendation by voice vote; the recommendation now goes to the common council for the required preliminary resolution, engineer’s report and public hearing.

Next steps described at the meeting: the common council must decide whether to finance the project by special assessment, the city engineer will prepare a public report, affected property owners will be notified and a public hearing will be scheduled. The project schedule and any assessment amounts will be set only after those steps are complete.