Shorewood authorizes change order to add West Lane resurfacing and tree work after underrun

City Engineer Budde told the council on May 27, 2025, that the 2025 Mill and Overlay project came in under budget, creating an opportunity to add work under a unit-price change order. Staff presented four options for additional work: additional ash tree removal, West Lane mill and overlay, Freeman Park mill and overlay, and Public Works parking lot mill and overlay.

Councilmember Gorham emphasized that adding West Lane would address a high-priority resident request and noted contractors were honoring unit pricing, making this a cost-effective window to act. Mayor Labadie asked for more detail on ash tree counts; Budde said he had no exact tree count on hand but estimated many trees showed signs of Emerald Ash Borer and that 50–60% of affected trunks are in the public right-of-way while 5–15% may be on private property and would require owner coordination. Budde said the City would not remove ash trees treated by property owners without permission.

The Council adopted Resolution No. 25-053 authorizing Change Order #1 for City Projects 24-10 and 23-01. Councilmembers and staff noted the trade-off between acting now while unit pricing is honored and delaying work, which could raise costs. Budde said the pre-construction meeting was scheduled for May 30, 2025.

Staff reported seasonal maintenance work and that roughly 120 trees had been planted recently in parks; the council directed staff to coordinate with utilities where trees are entangled with service lines before removal work proceeds.