Public Works Committee approves Hansen Farm pay request, landfill monitoring rental and sets aside non-lapsing maintenance funds

The Viroqua Public Works Committee voted on multiple construction and budget items at its meeting, approving a corrected first pay request for the Hansen Farm project, releasing final payment on the city’s salt shed, authorizing a change order to cover landfill gas-monitoring equipment rentals, and moving about $73,609.76 into a 2026 non-lapsing materials-maintenance designation.

Committee members heard a detailed presentation from staff on project progress and landfill monitoring results before taking votes. The Hansen Farm pay request includes stored materials on site that staff said are accounted for as a line item that will decrease as materials are installed; staff described the contractor’s work on water and sewer crossings and said crews hope to have pipe in the ground by Christmas. On the landfill, staff reported that field work around probe No. 2 found waste beyond the existing cap, prompting installation of a large vent and additional probes; staff said weather has complicated sampling and that further probe installations will clarify the next steps.

The committee approved the Hansen Farm Pay Request No. 1 with a correction to the documented live tap quantity that reduced the payment by $6,000. A separate motion released the salt shed final pay request of $25,150 (retainage). The committee also approved Change Order No. 5 — a $13,400 request to cover seven months of rental for gas-monitoring equipment associated with landfill work — after staff explained direct rental billing and cost tradeoffs. Finally, members voted to designate $73,609.76 from the materials-maintenance fund as a non-lapsing allocation to preserve those dollars for projects carried into 2026.

"I'd like to give a shout out to the department or the city guys who plowed the snow. Excellent job," said Cindy during the meeting’s street operations discussion, as members praised crews for their snow response. Staff said the city had a difficult multi-night plowing event and described challenges with frozen sampling equipment and locks at the landfill site.

Votes at a glance - Hansen Farm Pay Request No. 1: Approved (payment due reported at $562,220.67, minus a $6,000 correction; final corrected payment stated as $556,220.67). Motion made and seconded; roll call vote carried. - Salt shed final pay request (Pay Request No. 4): Approved, $25,150. Motion made by Tanya, seconded by Todd; roll call vote carried. - TRC Change Order No. 5 (landfill gas-monitoring equipment rental): Approved, $13,400. Motion made by Tanya; roll call vote carried. - Non-lapsing materials-maintenance fund designation: Approved, $73,609.76 moved into a 2026 non-lapsing designation. Motion made and seconded; roll call vote carried. - Closed session personnel action under Wisconsin statute referenced in meeting: Reconfirmed by motion upon reconvening from closed session.

What staff said Staff described the Hansen Farm pay request as a large first payment that reflects both completed work and stored materials on site, which is accounting practice to show materials staged for later installation. On the landfill, staff said probe work discovered waste outside the fenced/capped area and that they installed a large vent and additional probes to understand gas migration. Staff also said winter conditions have repeatedly hindered sampling and equipment handling, and that the next round of probes (scheduled for December 15 in the presentation) should provide more clarity.

Next steps Staff said they will continue installing probes around the landfill and complete outstanding work on Hansen Farm in coming months; they will also follow up on whether a rent-to-own option for gas-monitoring equipment is available. The matters approved on the agenda will be forwarded as appropriate for council action or implementation tracking.