Public Works Committee approves event closures, contracts and CIP amendments in voice votes

The Kenosha Public Works Committee on Aug. 11 approved a series of street closures, event permits, contract awards and capital improvement program amendments during a grouped consent‑style set of motions and voice votes.

The committee voted, by voice, to approve requests and contracts including event street closures for the Kenosha County Courthouse Centennial celebration, the Cheezapalooza festival and food truck parking for the Pipe River Classic; it also approved several construction contract awards and a CIP amendment for Strawberry Creek improvements.

Votes at a glance (items, motions and outcomes)

1) Approval of minutes, 07/28/2022 — approved - Motion: approve minutes of 07/28/2022. - Mover/Second: not specified in transcript (motion and second recorded). - Outcome: approved by voice vote; Chair votes aye. Vote tally recorded as unanimous voice votes by committee members in attendance (6 yes, 0 no).

2) Request from Jeff and Carol Kim to pave and maintain Long Park area (mailbox pad) — approved - Applicant: Jeff Kim (address given on record). - Motion: approve installation of a 3‑by‑3 (approx.) by 4‑foot deep pad to place mailbox (described on record as 3 by 3 foot, 4 foot deep). - Mover/Second: not specified in transcript. - Outcome: approved by voice vote; Chair votes aye. Vote tally: 6 yes, 0 no. - Note: Applicant said construction removed an existing mailbox; committee approved the request to replace the pad.

3) Kenosha County Parks Department — street closures for Courthouse Centennial celebration, 08/24/2025 — approved - Motion: close Tenth Avenue from 50 Sixth Street to 50 Seventh Street and close 50 Sixth Street from Sheridan Road to Tenth Avenue on 08/24/2025 for the Centennial event. - Mover/Second: motion and second recorded; mover/second not named on the audio. - Outcome: approved by voice vote; Chair votes aye. Vote tally: 6 yes, 0 no. - Note: Event described as an afternoon community celebration with marching band appearance, open house and Kenosha Pops concert.

4) Carmichael and Associates — Cheezapalooza, Harbor Park, Promenade, sidewalks, 08/30/2025 — approved - Motion: permit use of Harbor Park, Promenade and sidewalks for Cheezapalooza. - Mover/Second: motion and second recorded; mover/second not named. - Outcome: approved by voice vote; Chair votes aye. Vote tally: 6 yes, 0 no.

5) Hold My Gear — food truck parking adjacent to Pinoyar Park for Pipe River Classic, 09/06/2025 — approved - Motion: permit use of East Side of Seventh Avenue adjacent to Pinoyar Park for food trucks. - Outcome: approved by voice vote; Chair votes aye. Vote tally: 6 yes, 0 no.

6) Award of contract — Project 24‑102760, Seventh Street Improvements, to Leilong Contractors Inc. — approved - Motion: award contract for Seventh Street Improvements to Leilong Contractors Inc. - Mover/Second: motion and second recorded; names not specified on the audio. - Outcome: approved by voice vote; Chair votes aye. Vote tally: 6 yes, 0 no. - Note: Staff said late‑season bidding may explain discrepancies among bids; staff recommended award to Leilong Contractors.

7) Resolution and award — Strawberry Creek subdivision adjustments and sidewalks (CIP amendment and contract) - Motion: amend 2025 CIP to increase OT 18‑003 Strawberry Creek Subdivision improvements by $50,000 and decrease IN 21‑004 Sixteenth Avenue to Washington; award contract (Project 24‑1255 Strawberry Creek sidewalks, ADA ramps and street trees) to Forward Contractors of Wisconsin in the amount of $347,400. - Mover/Second: motion and second recorded. - Outcome: approved by voice vote; Chair votes aye. Vote tally: 6 yes, 0 no.

8) Grouped items (8–11) approved together by motion - Item 8: Award of contract Project 25‑1010, epoxy pavement markings to Century Traffic LLC — $95,000 (approved). - Item 9: CIP amendment to create OT 25‑003 Gila Parking Lot in TID No. 32 — $291,000 increase to 2025 CIP (approved). - Item 10: Award of contract Project 25‑1624, Emerging Leaders West and East parking lot to LaVonne Contractors Inc. — $651,000 (approved). - Item 11: Acceptance of Project 24‑1418 tree planting as satisfactorily completed by Arthur Wyler Inc.; final contract amount $77,514 (approved). - Mover/Second: motion made to consider 8–11 together; motion and second recorded. - Outcome: all approvals by voice vote; Chair votes aye. Vote tally for grouped items: 6 yes, 0 no.

9) Item 12 — waiver/receive file regarding tree planting bid qualifications — received - Item text: informational directive to waive requirements of subsection c and d of section 5.001 regarding tree planting (staff explained three bidders originally; due to qualification documentation only one qualified bidder remained, and staff recommended waiving bid requirements to encourage competition). - Motion: receive file (no substantive action beyond receiving a file and waiving the specified requirements was recorded). - Outcome: motion to receive file approved by voice vote; Chair votes aye.

What the votes mean

- All listed permits, contract awards and CIP adjustments were approved by the committee in voice votes during the Aug. 11 meeting. Where mover/second was not named on the audio, the record indicates a motion and second occurred and the committee approved the items by unanimous voice vote.

Speakers and official participants cited in the votes article

- Jack Rose — Chairperson, Public Works Committee (voted aye on recorded items) - Dominic Ruffalo — Vice chairperson (in attendance) - Brandy Faree — Alderperson (in attendance) - Penny Keeling — Alderperson (in attendance) - Anthony Kennedy — Alderperson (in attendance) - Bill Seal — Alderperson (in attendance) - Jeff Kim — citizen/applicant for mailbox pad request (address given on record) - Joe Potente — Kenosha County communications manager (spoke in support of courthouse centennial closure) - James Jansen — representative for Carmichael and Associates (Cheezapalooza)

Authorities and contracts referenced (on record)

- Contract award: Project 24‑102760 Seventh Street Improvements — Leilong Contractors Inc. (referenced_by:["public_works_votes_at_a_glance_2025-08-11"]). - Resolution: CIP amendment OT 18‑003 Strawberry Creek Subdivision improvements — $50,000 increase (referenced_by:["public_works_votes_at_a_glance_2025-08-11"]). - Contract award: Project 24‑1255 Strawberry Creek sidewalks, ADA ramps and street trees — Forward Contractors of Wisconsin — $347,400 (referenced_by:["public_works_votes_at_a_glance_2025-08-11"]). - Contract award: Project 25‑1010 epoxy pavement markings — Century Traffic LLC — $95,000 (referenced_by:["public_works_votes_at_a_glance_2025-08-11"]). - Contract award: Project 25‑1624 Emerging Leaders parking lot — LaVonne Contractors Inc. — $651,000 (referenced_by:["public_works_votes_at_a_glance_2025-08-11"]). - Acceptance of completed work: Project 24‑1418 tree planting — Arthur Wyler Inc. — final amount $77,514 (referenced_by:["public_works_votes_at_a_glance_2025-08-11"]).

Clarifying details extracted from the record

- Mailbox pad: request described on record as a 3 by 3 foot pad, 4 feet deep, to place a mailbox (applicant Jeff Kim described current mailbox removed during construction). - Strawberry Creek CIP change: increase OT 18‑003 Strawberry Creek Subdivision improvements by $50,000 and decrease IN 21‑004 Sixteenth Avenue to Washington (staff presented as part of CIP amendment). - Tree planting final amount: $77,514 (acceptance of completed work by Arthur Wyler Inc.). - Epoxy pavement marking contract amount: $95,000 to Century Traffic LLC. - Emerging Leaders parking lot contract amount: $651,000 to LaVonne Contractors Inc.

Provenance (transcript excerpts supporting vote items)

- {"block_id":"seg_1005.89","local_start":0,"local_end":25,"evidence_excerpt":"Your approval of the minutes of 07/28/2022.","tc_start":"16:45.889","reason_code":"topicintro"} - {"block_id":"seg_1102.61","local_start":0,"local_end":58,"evidence_excerpt":"Request from Kenosha County Parks Department for closure of Tenth Avenue from 50 Sixth Street to 50 Seventh Street and closure of 50 Sixth Street from Sheridan Road to Tenth Avenue on 08/24/2025.","tc_start":"18:22.610","reason_code":"topicintro"} - {"block_id":"seg_1297.00","local_start":0,"local_end":50,"evidence_excerpt":"Request from Carmichael and Associates Incorporated for use of Harbor Park, Promenade, and various city sidewalks on 08/30/2025 to hold the Cheezapalooza event.","tc_start":"21:37.000","reason_code":"topicintro"} - {"block_id":"seg_1361.585","local_start":0,"local_end":40,"evidence_excerpt":"Request from Hold My Gear for use of the East Side Of Seventh Avenue adjacent to Pinoyar Park for food truck parking on 09/06/2025 to hold the Pipe River Classic event.","tc_start":"22:41.585","reason_code":"topicintro"} - {"block_id":"seg_1394.595","local_start":0,"local_end":60,"evidence_excerpt":"Award of contract for project 24 Dash 102760 Seventh Street Improvements, to Leilong Contractors Incorporated.","tc_start":"23:14.595","reason_code":"topicintro"} - {"block_id":"seg_1472.685","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"Resolution by finance committee to amend the City Of Kenosha's capital improvement program for 2025 by increasing OT 18 Dash 003 Strawberry Creek Subdivision improvements in the amount of $50,000 and decreasing IN 21 Dash 004 Sixteenth Avenue to Washington Award of contract for project 24 dash 12 55. Award of contract for project 24 dash 12 55, Strawberry Creek sidewalks, ADA Rams and Street Trees to Forward Contractors of Wisconsin in the amount of $347,400.","tc_start":"24:32.685","reason_code":"topicintro"} - {"block_id":"seg_1660.68","local_start":0,"local_end":50,"evidence_excerpt":"We have motion and second for 8 through 11. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, aye.","tc_start":"27:40.680","reason_code":"topicfinish"}