Waukesha board accepts DNR CMAR and approves Change Order No. 2 for Clean Water Plant Phase 3

The Waukesha Board of Public Works on May 21 accepted the city's 2025 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Compliance Maintenance Annual Report (CMAR) for the Clean Water Plant and approved Change Order No. 2 for the Plant's Phase 3 improvements.

Zach Eisner of the Clean Water Plant presented the CMAR and told the board the plant earned a score of 4 for the 10th consecutive year. "We got a 4 on this report," Eisner said, and he described operational highlights including two small collection-system overflows after last August's heavy rain and the start of Phase 3 work that includes a sludge dryer and electrical upgrades.

Eisner said the sludge dryer is progressing on schedule: "we should expect the sludge dryer to come on-site sometime in, July or late June," with final project completion expected by the end of 2027 and initial operations and troubleshooting following installation. He added the plant is working with the DNR on validating the biosolids product; the transcript shows Eisner saying the DNR must verify bacteria levels and approve the solids as Class A biosolids.

The board then considered Change Order No. 2 for the Phase 3 project. Eisner explained the change order has several components: about $3,000 to change circuit breakers in a motor-control center, roughly $3,000 to upgrade fire-protection piping from Schedule 10 to Schedule 40, a $13,000 credit for substituting PVC for ductile iron piping to ease future modification, and a $39,000 credit because city crews will perform final topsoil and seeding instead of the contractor. "Overall, between those different parts, we get a total credit of dollars 46,000," Eisner said. He then read the contract figure as recorded in the meeting: "that would take the original contract amount of $18,600,000 to $18,619,389.33." The board approved the change order by voice vote.

Board members asked staff for clarifications about budgeting and funds. One member asked whether the $3.9 million cited in the presentation represented cash on hand or a projection of approved CIP spending through 2030; staff said the figure reflected approved CIP dollar amounts through 2030 and agreed to follow up with the specific cash-on-hand number. The board voted to accept the CMAR report and to approve the change order; votes were recorded as ayes by O'Donnell, Kevin Riley and Piper (as spoken in the meeting).

The board adjourned after completing the items.

The project schedule and DNR approvals remain next steps; staff said they will return with any further updates or required follow-up documentation.