Waukesha Water Utility ratifies construction contracts, approves payments and Winterberry developer agreement

The Waukesha Water Utility Commission on April 17 approved several routine payments, ratified two water-main construction contracts, revised an easement with We Energies at Crestwood Pump Station and approved a developer's agreement for phase 1 of the Winterberry Reserve development.

The commission approved payments from the general and improvement funds that include loan and interest payments; commissioners noted the utility made its second of three $2,100,000 payments and that the utility makes an annual pilot payment to the City of Waukesha of $2,000,000.

Commissioners ratified the utility's portion of a City of Waukesha Public Works contract for the Gascoigne (also shown as Gascoyne in meeting papers) utility and street improvements. The water-utility share and the 1% city administration fee total $1,604,732.52. The staff memo said the city opened bids March 28; the low bidder was listed as Lalonde, with MJ Construction as the water-main subcontractor. The commission recorded the ratification after noting the project previously went before the Common Council for approval.

The commission also approved the water-main replacement contract and 1% city administration fee totaling $943,141.21 for the Green Meadow (Michigan to Summit) utility and street improvements with Wandel Contractors Inc. Staff said bids opened April 11 and that the project is limited to the water main on Green Meadow (Cascade Drive work was not included in the utility contract). The project estimate on staff materials was $1,155,000; the approved contract amount is below that estimate after the city administration fee was applied.

The commission approved a revision to a previously approved easement with We Energies at the Crestwood Pump Station site. Staff said We Energies proposed a redesigned alignment and a wider 12-foot easement to avoid a generator and lot lines; the revised instrument will be recorded in place of the previously approved 9-foot easement. Staff said the revised easement crosses an existing 1974 easement and will be recorded at no cost to the utility. One commissioner abstained on the easement vote because of a work-group conflict noted in the meeting.

The commission approved the developer's agreement for phase 1 of the Winterberry Reserve subdivision at no cost to the utility, subject to two contingencies: the developer receiving Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) water-supply approval and VH Winterberry Reserve LLC closing on the land purchase. Staff described the phase-1 scope as new 12-inch and 8-inch water mains that will eventually form a loop with existing mains; the work will serve single-family lots in the development.

All votes were taken by voice. Where the meeting record noted abstentions or other qualifiers, the actions above reflect those statements as recorded in the transcript.