Onalaska’s Board of Public Works and Utilities approved several project amendments, change orders and pay estimates and accepted the city’s PASER pavement condition ratings at its Dec. 2 meeting.

Public Works Director Jared Holter presented an amendment to Strand Associates’ task order for Franklin Street lift station construction observation and SCADA graphics updates, increasing the contract from $103,500 to $112,000 (an $8,500 increase). Holter said the extra hours covered part‑time construction observation while city inspectors were unavailable. The board approved the amendment unanimously.

A separate change order for the Franklin Street lift station added a valve in the valve vault to enable flow segregation and emergency bypass procedures; that change order cost $8,540 and will be paid from the sanitary sewer operating fund rather than the project loan. The board approved that change order.

City Engineer Kevin Schubert described additional excavation at the aquatic center shelter site where crews encountered an old buried foundation and an underground storm pipe; change order #2 for the 2025 miscellaneous concrete project totaled $3,913.87 and will be charged to the existing project budget. The pay estimates dated Dec. 2 for multiple contractors (including Strand Associates Inc., TJ’s Trucking, Fowler & Hammer Inc., Massey Construction and others) were also approved.

Staff also presented PASER pavement evaluation results required by the state. Holter highlighted long-term improvements in pavement condition: in 2017, 13% of streets rated 3 or 4; current readings show 6% at those levels and 58% of streets rated 7 or better. The board accepted the PASER report and placed it on file.