Wausau Board of Public Works approves multiple contractor payments, awards police squad outfitting contract and moves to closed session

The Wausau Board of Public Works on Tuesday, Aug. 12 approved a series of contractor payments and contract actions, awarded a police squad outfitting contract and voted to go into closed session under Wisconsin law to consider contractor prequalification statements and claims.

The actions, taken during a regularly scheduled meeting called to order by James, included approval of a recommendation to award the 2025 police squad outfitting contract to Bellco Vehicle Solutions; payments for multiple street and utility projects; release of a $5,000 retainage for a 2023 street project; approval of a concrete license for Ross Construction LLC; and a motion to enter closed session under the Wisconsin Statutes to consider prequalification statements and deliberate on claims.

A city staff member who reviewed bids told the board that two vendors submitted proposals after nine were contacted and that Gencom did not meet specifications because it could not provide in‑house lettering and graphics. "Bellco Vehicle Solutions meets the total spec," the staff member said, and recommended awarding the contract to Bellco Vehicle Solutions. The board approved the award with a motion to accept Bellco Vehicle Solutions' proposal in the amount of $158,273.64.

The board approved payment applications and closeout actions for several capital projects. The board approved Payment Estimate No. 3 for the 2025 sidewalk repair project A to S.D. Ellenbecker for $76,190.98; Payment Estimate No. 1 for the Washington Street siphon replacement project to A‑1 Excavating in the amount of $660,666.83 for work completed to date; final retainage release of $5,000 to Hassans Incorporated to close out the 2023 Street Construction Project A (Grant Street, Henrietta Street); Payment Estimate No. 4 for 2023 Street Construction Project B (Fulton Street, First Street, Second Street) to Switlik and Sons in the amount of $523,056.96; and Payment Estimate No. 1 for the 2025 asphalt paving Project A to American Asphalt in the amount of $472,915.50.

The board also approved a support/land concrete license for Ross Construction LLC after a staff review.

Near the end of the meeting the board voted to enter a closed session "pursuant to section 19.85(d) of the Wisconsin Statutes for the purpose of considering and deliberating on prequalification statements for the 2025 slip line repair project and pursuant to section 19.85(1)(g) of the Wisconsin Statutes for the purpose of deliberating on claims," as read into the record by the presiding member. A motion to go into closed session was seconded and carried.

Votes at a glance: the board recorded motions, seconds and oral "Aye" votes on each item; the meeting transcript records the following approved items and recommended payments: police squad outfitting — Bellco Vehicle Solutions, $158,273.64 (motion approved); 2025 sidewalk repair project A — S.D. Ellenbecker, $76,190.98 (motion approved); Washington Street siphon replacement — A‑1 Excavating, $660,666.83 (motion approved); 2023 Street Construction Project A final retainage release — Hassans Incorporated, $5,000 (motion approved); 2023 Street Construction Project B Payment Estimate No. 4 — Switlik and Sons, $523,056.96 (motion approved); 2025 asphalt paving Project A Payment Estimate No. 1 — American Asphalt, $472,915.50 (motion approved); support/land concrete license — Ross Construction LLC (license approved); motion to enter closed session under Wis. Stat. §19.85(d) and §19.85(1)(g) (motion approved).

The items were presented with inspector or staff recommendations noted in the record (inspectors named in the meeting record included Matt Guptail and Kurt DeBoer as having reviewed specific pay estimates). The meeting opened with approval of the prior meeting's minutes and concluded with the motion to enter closed session.