Shorewood council awards SE water contract, approves surplus sales and hires administrative assistant in 4–1 vote

Shorewood Mayor Jamifer Labadie and the City Council on Monday approved a set of infrastructure and staffing measures, including awarding a construction contract for SE Area water improvements and hiring an administrative assistant after a divided vote.

The council voted to accept the low bid and award the SE Area Water Improvements contract (City Project 24‑08) to Magney Construction, Inc., approving RESOLUTION 25‑069. City staff said four bids were received and that the recommended award reflects their review of pricing and project needs; staff noted an anticipated $35,000 reduction to reconcile engineer's estimates with bid results and an additional possible $12,000 savings depending on test results. City Engineer Tom Budde and Public Works Director Brian Morreim explained the work also includes replacement of aging control equipment and that separate HVAC/chlorine upgrades could be handled in a later capital improvement project if needed.

Also on the agenda, Public Works outlined a list of vehicles and maintenance items declared surplus and proposed using proceeds from their sale to buy smaller capital tools (including a magnetic manhole lifter, portable radar speed signs, a brine storage/transfer pump, and attachments such as a logging grapple and stump grinder). The council approved RESOLUTION 25‑070 to declare inventory surplus and authorized procurement of the listed small capital items after the sale. Director Morreim said several items are not in the CIP and were identified during routine operations as needs that could be funded through surplus proceeds.

On personnel, the council approved the hire of Sheila Van Sloun as probationary Administrative Assistant for the City of Shorewood on a 4–1 vote, with Councilmember DiGruttolo opposing. DiGruttolo questioned hiring at Grade 7, Step F — near the top of the City's pay grid adopted after a 2023 compensation study — and whether the position required 25 years of local‑government experience. City Administrator Mark Nevinski and Finance Director Schmuck said the candidate was selected from about 150 applicants and that Grade 7 was the established placement for the role and matched the prior incumbent’s placement, emphasizing consistency and fairness under the adopted pay plan.

Councilmembers also approved a service agreement with Schwickert's Tecta America, LLC, for HVAC maintenance at City Hall, the Shorewood Community and Event Center and the Public Works facility. Morreim said the three sites together have roughly 20 heating and cooling systems and that the vendor's software will provide an accessible service log; the City would pay an annual software access fee (about $1,000) while it considers wider asset‑management solutions.

The council received several informational updates. Steve Sundberg, president of the Christmas Lake Home Owners Association, described an eDNA research project for early detection of aquatic invasive species and asked the City to commit to repairing asphalt near access gates the association intends to fund; Public Works staff indicated the area is likely city‑owned and that patching could be added to repair plans. Park Commissioner Wenner briefed the council on the Park Commission's July 22 meeting and on CIP allocations (roughly $200,000 currently identified for equipment replacement or refurbishment), noting the Parks Master Plan process could reprioritize projects. City staff also updated the council on recent tree removal and right‑of‑way work at Freeman Park, completion of the 2025 mill‑and‑overlay paving with punch‑list work outstanding, and ongoing design work on Galpin Lake Trail and Mill Street water‑main projects.

Mayor Labadie reported outreach with area mayors and noted that Senator Ann Johnson Stewart has signaled awareness of a potential funding gap for the Highway 7 corridor project. Labadie said she is exploring attendance at a Transportation Alliance event in Washington, D.C., with possible meetings with officials and that she will return with specific objectives and a cost estimate (staff estimated $1,500–$2,000) before the council considers approving travel.

Votes at a glance • Consent agenda (minutes, claims list, Freeman Park Trail final acceptance RES 25‑067, Freeman Park Field 1 fence RES 25‑068, other consent items): approved (motion passed; individual roll calls not recorded in minutes). • RESOLUTION 25‑069 — Accept bids and award contract for SE Area Water Improvements (City Project 24‑08): approved (motion carried). • RESOLUTION 25‑070 — Declare inventory surplus and authorize sale/procurement: approved (motion carried). • Hire of Sheila Van Sloun as Administrative Assistant: approved 4–1 (Councilmember DiGruttolo opposed). • HVAC service agreement with Schwickert's Tecta America, LLC: approved (motion carried).

The council adjourned at 9:04 p.m. The items moved from the consent agenda (the administrative‑assistant hire and the HVAC agreement) were discussed and voted on during General/New Business.