Waukesha Board of Public Works approves Minaka Park alternate surfacing, several change orders and payment batch; rejects two bids

The Waukesha City Board of Public Works met on July 17, 2025, and approved a package of routine contracting actions: rejecting two bids to be repackaged, awarding an alternate surfacing bid for Minaka Park, approving several contract change orders and authorizing 14 partial payments.

At the start of the meeting the chair called roll and confirmed a quorum. Board member Joe Piper moved to approve the June 19 minutes; the board voted to approve the minutes.

On contracting matters, staff recommended rejecting the lone bid on the Les Paul Performance Center improvements and repackaging that solicitation to try to reduce cost. Piper moved to reject the bid and the board voted to reject it. Staff made a similar recommendation for the single bid received for the South Street parking‑ramp structural repair project, saying bid quantities had been overstated in the package; the board voted to reject that bid so staff can correct the quantities and rebid.

On Minaka Park surfacing, staff told the board the Parks Department recommended the three‑color base design and identified the low base bid at $93,740 to contractor Blue Mells, but also noted a one‑color alternate was roughly $1,300 less. Piper moved to accept the lower one‑color alternate bid at $92,450; the board clarified that the approved alternate will be a single‑color pour (a black base with one accent color) and voted to approve that alternate.

The board approved several change orders brought by staff. It approved change order number 1 with Leylond for the East Broadway and North Hartwell traffic signal improvements, a package totaling about $45,443.33 that included an unbid item to remove existing roadway (about $5,800) plus additional quantities for curb, gutter and sidewalk work. Staff said funds were available and indicated the project remained essentially within budget (the transcript records it was “under budget by about $7”).

The board also approved change order number 1 for the Rubin Drive forcemain upgrade, totaling $15,420.01. Staff said work added included rebuilding a manhole rather than only replacing the frame and cover, replacing a deteriorated corrugated metal pipe culvert crossing Rubin Drive, and addressing undercut at Butler and Saratoga; the change order also reflected a $12,000 reduction tied to a pipe‑size change.

A further change order (number 2) with Sable Mechanical was approved to add a transformer required to hook up a generator for the Rivers Crossing and Gulf Road pump station projects; that transformer cost $3,174.

Staff presented 14 partial payments for ongoing projects; the board voted to approve the payments as presented.

Staff announced that the Badger Drive bus‑wash replacement and the municipal garage HVAC projects will go out to bid, with responses expected Aug. 1. A board member asked whether the new bus washer could accommodate vehicles other than buses; staff said the unit includes a control panel to change vehicle settings and can be used for other vehicle types, including larger vehicles such as dump trucks and public‑safety vehicles cited by staff as examples.

The meeting adjourned after the business was concluded.