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Union seeks lower Alliant Energy Center surge‑cleaning contract; committee recommends award and asks for transparency
Summary
SPM Local 65 asked the committee to reduce the Alliant Energy Center surge‑cleaning contract and to require documentation of when outsourced cleaning is used; the committee recommended approval of Resolution 3‑29 and asked staff for quarterly transparency on usage.
The Dane County Public Works and Transportation Committee on Feb. 25 recommended approval of Resolution 3‑29, an award of contract for surge cleaning services at the Alliant Energy Center (AEC), after receiving comment from SPM Local 65 representatives who urged greater transparency and a smaller contract amount.
Why it matters: The Alliant Energy Center is a major county facility that brings external events and contracted services. The size and use of surge cleaning contracts affect county spending and county workforce utilization.
What was said: Travis Thomas, treasurer of SPM Local 65 (Dane County), told the committee the union appreciated recent labor‑management progress — including commitments to hire three full‑time positions (one mechanic and two center lead workers) and roughly 10 LTE positions — but requested two items: documentation of events when surge/outside cleaning is used (a stipulation the union says existed in the 2019 contract) and that the dollar amount requested for outsourced cleaning be reduced from $150,000 to $100,000.
AEC staff responded that they had been meeting with union representatives, that relations were improving and that the center had recently added temporary staff. Staff recommended retaining the larger amount (the transcript references $150,000) to avoid returning to the committee if additional funds were needed as bookings increase. The committee voted by voice to recommend approval of Resolution 3‑29 and a committee member asked that staff provide documentation to the union showing when surge cleaning was used.
Details and follow up: The committee chair noted the procurement will still require finance committee scheduling; staff said the services were likely needed in March and asked that finance consider meeting before the next full county board meeting. The motion to recommend approval carried by voice vote; no opposed votes were recorded on the transcript.
Quoted: "We are pleased to hear about the hiring of three full‑time positions... and roughly 10 LTE positions... With these additions, hopefully hiring more staff and more FTEs... this is a really good step forward," Travis Thomas said. He added that the union requests documentation of events where outsourced cleaning is used and proposed the $100,000 figure.
Next steps: Resolution 3‑29 was forwarded to the county finance committee for scheduling and final processing; the committee asked staff to provide periodic documentation to the union on use of surge cleaning funds.
