Wausau Board of Public Works accepts low alley-paving bid, approves multiple pay estimates and tables lead‑line change order

The City of Wausau Board of Public Works on May 27 accepted a low bid for the 2025 alley paving project, approved pay estimates totaling several hundred thousand dollars for trail, downtown and wastewater projects, and tabled a change order request related to the city’s lead service line replacement program pending further documentation and DNR review.

Board Member 1, a member of the Board of Public Works, moved to accept the low bid from RC Pavers for the 2025 alley paving project; the board approved the motion. RC Pavers’ low bid was recorded as $40,980; competing bids referenced in the meeting included American Asphalt and Haas, with Haas described as the highest bid.

The board approved these construction payments and contract changes presented at the meeting: a pay estimate of $232,288.38 for the 70 Second Avenue Trail South Extension (contractor PGA Inc.); a pay estimate of $376,060.66 for the Downtown Mall redevelopment (Pembroke Companies); and pay estimate number two for the wastewater treatment plant screening facility improvements (J.F. Ahern) for $112,574.72. The board also approved a $2,075 change order for an asphalt pavement patching project with RC Pavers and a pay estimate of $31,442.43 for the 2025 asphalt patching project (pay estimate number 1).

Several items were discussed but not acted on. The board reviewed a single bid from Mavo Systems of Wisconsin for asbestos abatement at the City of Wausau MetroRide facility; the bid total shown in meeting materials was $14,875. The bid breakdown in the meeting record included a $2,800 line for tile removal and $11,825 for asbestos removal and disposal; the transcript recording of the baseboard-removal line was unclear. Board members agreed to keep the bid on file and to table further action until the city solicits a separate replacement bid for the second floor to capture total cost.

A proposed change order (number 2) from Community Infrastructure Partners to cover higher unit prices and additional full-service replacements under the city’s lead service line replacement contract was also discussed. Meeting participants said the project is state-funded and that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) must review or approve change orders for the project. Board members noted documentation in the agenda packet indicating price increases from suppliers and that the contractor was seeking roughly $900 more per full-service lateral for about 853 full-service replacements; the board agreed to table action on that change order until a contractor representative and the original contract could be reviewed.

Board members said contingency funds remain available in the lead-line project account, but did not state a final contingency balance to which the board committed the increase. Members directed staff to obtain the original contract documents and to request a representative from the contractor for the next meeting.

The board’s approvals at the May 27 meeting were procedural votes taken during an open session; board members signaled approval by voice vote. No recorded roll-call tallies with member names were provided in the meeting transcript.

Funding notes: the board discussed that the pay estimate for lead-line replacement pay estimate would be submitted to the DNR for reimbursement, and that market-driven material-cost increases were the primary reason cited for the requested change order.

Looking ahead, board members scheduled follow-up on the asbestos work scope and the lead-line change order for the next meeting, asking staff to gather contract documentation and invite contractor representation.