Public Works committee backs 2026 budget package including stormwater feasibility study and equipment replacements

The Public Works, Properties and Sustainability Committee voted to recommend the 2026 Public Works recommended budget after a discussion that included capital street and trail projects, vehicle and equipment replacements and a proposal to fund a stormwater utility feasibility study.

The committee’s discussion centered on a capital plan that would fund a trade‑in program for a skid steer (referred to in materials as a “tool cat”), ongoing street, trail and sidewalk maintenance, and engineering for several repaving and trail connections. “So instead of borrowing for it, we'd like to add it into our operations line,” Kyla, the director presenting the budget packet, said of the tool‑cat trade‑in, noting the machine’s purchase price is “$100,000, give or take” and that joining the vendor’s trade program carries a $15,000 entry cost and annual maintenance handled by the vendor.

Kyla told the committee the department expects lower winter salt usage as brine and two new snowplow trucks reduce demand, estimating a $30,000 decrease in the salt budget. She also described a planned street‑lighting project at the DNR‑owned trailhead off Main Street for which the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has offered $39,000 to help offset costs; the lights would be owned by the village and require three‑party coordination.

The packet presented listed a number of 2026 capital candidates, including the BB/Bus bike path and Damascus Trail improvements tied to new development, an equipment replacement list (a 3/4‑ton pickup, an F550 with dump box and salter attachments), new barricades and equipment (a trailer for barricades, a forklift and pallet racking) and an allocation for small asphalt patches and concrete replacements. The presentation said the village’s street, trail and sidewalk maintenance program totals just over $1,051,000 for 2026; the materials also noted engineering work for planned 2026 repaving locations.

Kyla also proposed a $110,000 stormwater utility feasibility study to include engineering by Strand Associates, legal and ordinance updates, billing and accounting work and a community outreach program. “This is really taking the request from start to finish,” Kyla said, describing Strand’s role in estimating capital and operating costs, calculating residential equivalency units and designing a crediting framework for properties that manage their own runoff. She added, “I would tell this to the village board and this committee, this should not move forward if there's not an intent to implement. This is a lot of money to study, get a unit charging and then do nothing with.” The presenter estimated roughly 80–90% of the $110,000 would cover the feasibility study itself and that the remainder would fund accounting, legal and outreach work.

Committee members asked about long‑term staffing needs. One committee member, who provided cost estimates, said full‑time positions with benefits would be “somewhere between 80 and 90” thousand dollars for a mechanic and “100 to a 110” thousand dollars for a GIS specialist after benefits, applying a rule‑of‑thumb “salary plus 30%” to reach total employment cost. The presenter said a single technician currently splits roughly a third of their time among public works, water and sewer operations and that an additional technician would be the next priority if the village expanded staffing.

After discussion, a committee member moved to advance the capital portion of the package and to recommend the 2026 Public Works recommended budget to the full village board; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

The packet also noted a carryover of 2025 MPO planning grant funds that have not yet been contracted with the MPO and federal government; those funds were proposed to be carried into 2026 pending final federal contracting.

The committee asked for continued clarity on project sequencing and encouraged staff to return with more precise cost breakdowns as details are finalized.

Ending: The committee’s recommendation moves the budget to the village board for final consideration. If the village board approves it, staff will finalize contracts, award equipment procurements and proceed with engineering and outreach for the stormwater feasibility work reported for potential implementation in 2027.