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Waukesha Water Utility: operations center construction progressing; staff report lawsuit and rate-case updates
Summary
Utility staff reported construction progress on the new operations center (steel framing, pressure-tested water lines, windows, and precast panels), ongoing depositions in a pending lawsuit with summary-judgment still awaited, and that the utility asked the Public Service Commission for a rate-case extension while auditors are scheduled for March.
Utility staff told the Waukesha Water Utility Commission on Jan. 15 that the new operations center is advancing and that several administrative items remain active, including ongoing depositions in a lawsuit and further work on a rate-case filing with the Public Service Commission.
Matt, a utility operations staff member, presented photos and described recent construction milestones: "All the steel framing is up now," he said, noting roofing insulation and corrugated steel decking are in place and that crews planned to set precast floor panels and roof decking soon but that cold weather could delay those steps. He said hydrants and building services are installed and that a pressure test passed; a bacteriological sample was scheduled for the following day.
Matt showed interior progress, citing masonry walls that will support a mezzanine and identifying the lunch room, training room, locker rooms and lab areas. He also noted which areas will be conditioned—"the office will have A/C; the shop will not." The project team reported credits on some items (roughly $80,000 on roof trusses) and an allowance fund balance staff estimated near $160,000, so the recent change order for pond regrading and a loading-dock leveler was presented as manageable within the project budget.
Courtney provided administrative updates: depositions continue in a pending lawsuit and the utility is awaiting a judge’s summary-judgment decision that may affect timing for a general manager transition; staff received questions from the Public Service Commission on the utility’s rate-case filing and requested an extension to accommodate staffing and year-end work; auditors will be on site March 11–13 and staff are preparing the diversion report required in coordination with Milwaukee Water.
Staff also reviewed operations items: crews recorded three water-main disruptions since the prior meeting, the PLC (programmable logic controller) replacement project is underway at stations, and design work is in progress for next year’s water-main projects. Commissioners asked staff to double-check project lists with the Department of Public Works to account for possible changes to which projects will proceed in 2026.
The commission received the reports and adjourned after routine closing remarks. The next steps noted were continuation of construction activities, completion of required tests and sample results, and awaiting the court’s action on the pending lawsuit.
