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Fort Atkinson council approves multiple capital purchases and upgrades including chiller, plow truck, excavator and airport service upgrades
Summary
The council approved several procurement and contract items April 21: municipal building ramps ($22,500 + $775 rail painting), Helm Group chiller contract ($147,290), a 2027 Ford F-750 plow truck ($225,901), a Volvo wheeled excavator ($232,831), We Energies airport service upgrades ($11,042.29) and six grant-funded thermal imagers ($9,570).
The Fort Atkinson City Council approved multiple procurement and contract items at its April 21 meeting, authorizing staff to execute contracts for maintenance, equipment replacement and grant-funded property for public-safety use.
Parks and Recreation Director Dayton recommended repairing municipal building ramps, stairs and the pocket park to address ADA concerns and improve aesthetics, presenting two quotes. Dayton said staff recommended Pence Concrete’s proposal not to exceed $22,500 and a handrail painting quote from Jake Lesser for $775; the council approved the combined work. Dayton told the council the brick ramps were cracking and created tripping hazards and that the slope was compliant but the material was the issue.
Wastewater Superintendent Sweeney presented quotes to replace the 1991 main building chiller and the 2013 solids-handling air conditioner; three bids were received and staff recommended Helm Group at a cost not to exceed $147,290, with sufficient funds available in the wastewater CIP to cover the $7,290 overrun. The council approved the contract and authorized the city manager to execute it.
Public Works Superintendent Williams described replacement fleet purchases approved in the 2026 CIP. The council approved purchase of a 2027 Ford F-750 plow truck with upfit from Ewald Ford/Monroe Truck at a total not to exceed $225,901, and approved a Volvo EWR130E wheeled excavator with attachments from Airing Equipment Company at a cost not to exceed $232,831; both purchases were described as replacements of aging equipment and fall within approved CIP budgets.
For the Fort Atkinson Municipal Airport, staff requested and council approved electrical service upgrades to be installed by We Energies at a cost not to exceed $11,042.29; staff said the majority of the cost will be reimbursed as part of an approved federal project from the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics and the city’s local share is roughly 2.5%.
Police Chief Pump said the department received a state Department of Justice grant for law-enforcement response to drug trafficking and requested approval to purchase six AGM thermal monoculars at $9,570; Chief Pump said the devices exceed the performance of originally requested infrared scopes and will be deployed across detective and patrol units. Council approved the purchase.
Most approvals were taken by motion and voice vote; where an item required budget authorization staff told the council there were sufficient CIP funds to cover any minor overage.
