Marinette utilities approve lift station bid, authorize sewer lining and appoint operations manager to regional advisory committee

At a joint meeting of the Marinette Water and Wastewater Utilities Commissions on April 20, 2026, commissioners approved a construction bid for lift station #11, authorized emergency sewer lining on Carney Street and named Operations Manager Gabe Aschbacher to a regional advisory committee.

The action items were taken by voice vote with motions recorded as “motion carried.” Commissioner R. Polzin moved to accept the Advance Construction bid for lift station #11; Commissioner J. Zeratsky seconded and the motion carried. Commissioners then approved a quote from Great Lakes TV Seal to line the sewer from 301 Carney to 337 Carney, a project described in the meeting as preventative work “to prevent future collapse of this sewer main.” That motion was moved by Commissioner P. Eisenach, seconded by Commissioner M. Shaffer, and carried.

Operations Manager Gabe Aschbacher, appointed by the commission to serve on a committee assisting the Bay Lakes Regional Planning Commission as it updates the Marinette areawide sewer service area plan, reviewed infrastructure items and recent field work. “The staff is always keeping an eye out for leaks in the City,” Aschbacher said. He reported that Barley Construction was contracted for a deep sewer repair, that the sewer overflow was reported to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and that the cracked pipe was repaired in a few days. The commission noted Advanced Construction was awarded 2026 projects and said a 2027 grant application is underway with the same 70/30 split; the meeting record indicates engineering may need to be included in that grant.

Business Manager Dana Weber reported that the utility office has resumed service disconnects and that external auditors are finishing their review; the finance office expects a joint meeting with the City Council in June to follow up on audit items. Commissioners also reviewed paid invoice reports for February and March 2026 for both utilities and approved prior meeting minutes from February 16, March 2 and March 9, 2026.

Votes and recorded motions at the meeting included approval of the agenda (moved by Commissioner M. Shaffer, seconded by Commissioner P. Eisenach), acceptance of the previously City-Council-approved Advance Construction bid for lift station #11 (moved by Commissioner R. Polzin, seconded by Commissioner J. Zeratsky), acceptance of the Great Lakes TV Seal quote for lining from 301–337 Carney (moved by Commissioner P. Eisenach, seconded by Commissioner M. Shaffer), appointment of Gabe Aschbacher to the Bay Lakes advisory committee (moved by Commissioner R. Polzin, seconded by Commissioner K. West), and approval of three sets of meeting minutes (moved by Commissioner R. Polzin, seconded by Commissioner M. Shaffer). All motions in the transcript are recorded as carried; specific vote tallies were not provided.

Next steps noted in the meeting record: staff will proceed with the lift station and lining work under the accepted contracts and continue work on the 2027 grant application. Auditors are expected to finish their work and staff anticipate a follow-up joint meeting with the City Council in June.