Appleton City finance committee approves pool upgrades, workstation purchase, policy and budget amendments

The Appleton City Finance Committee voted unanimously Aug. 11 to approve a set of contracts, a policy update and budget amendments, including a $424,727 contract for Mead Pool coating and ADA upgrades and a $350,113 sole‑source purchase of workstations.

The committee, meeting at City Hall and chaired by the finance committee chair, approved the July 21 finance committee minutes before moving through the action items. All formal votes recorded at the meeting were 4‑0; Alder Hartstein was excused.

The committee approved a reimbursement request from the Riverside Cemetery Association for maintenance of veterans’ graves. Committee members treated the item as an annual approval and moved it forward without additional discussion; the motion passed 4‑0.

The committee approved the city’s 2026 special assessment policy after the Deputy Director said there were no material changes. “There are no material changes to the policy. The changes are updating the date and then providing an index of pages,” the Deputy Director said. The motion passed 4‑0.

The committee approved a sole‑source contract with Northern Business Environments to purchase new workstations for $350,113. Dr. Gossen, who spoke about the procurement, said the city commonly purchases a single furniture brand under government pricing contracts for consistency and value: “We end up following that and basically just, I guess, remaining with our standard and take an opportunity as a government contract.” The motion passed 4‑0.

The committee awarded the Mead Pool Coating and ADA upgrades contract to Cardinal Construction Company Inc. for $424,727, and approved a 7 percent contingency of $29,731, bringing the project total not to exceed $454,458. The award included budget amendments moving funds from 2025 hardscapes into the Mead Pool project.

Director Gauss described the scope of the Mead Pool work, saying the existing coating must be ground down to the substrate before recoating and that the coating portion of the contract is roughly $250,000. He also said the project includes an ADA‑compliant restroom and changing facility with an adult lift. Gauss said the project has been postponed several times and that the city would defer repaving of the Veterans Memorial parking lot to prioritize the pool’s accessibility work. The motion to award and amend the budget passed 4‑0.

The committee approved a final budget amendment to move $19,845 from a 2024 aeration process upgrades line to a phosphorus‑related line item described in the motion as “phosphorus analyzed.” The motion passed 4‑0. The transcript did not supply additional detail about the target line item beyond the wording used in the motion.

After questions about the debt‑issue memo, Alder Fenton thanked Director Omen and staff for locating non‑borrowed funds for a sustainability project. The committee adjourned after completing the agenda.

Votes at a glance - Approval of July 21 minutes — passed 4‑0. - Riverside Cemetery Association reimbursement (annual) — passed 4‑0. - 2026 special assessment policy (no material changes) — passed 4‑0. - Sole‑source contract: Northern Business Environments, workstations, $350,113 — passed 4‑0. - Contract award: Cardinal Construction Co. Inc., Mead Pool coating and ADA upgrades, $424,727; contingency $29,731; project total not to exceed $454,458; budget amendments moving funds from 2025 hardscapes — passed 4‑0. - Budget amendment: move $19,845 from 2024 aeration process upgrades to "phosphorus analyzed" line item (as stated in motion) — passed 4‑0.

For clarity: the meeting transcript identifies the governing body as the Finance Committee; individual alderpersons referenced in discussion include Alder Fenton and Alder Van Zielen. Alder Hartstein was noted as excused. Several staff speakers identified themselves by role (Deputy Director, Director Gauss, Director Omen); the transcript did not provide first names for those staff members.