Waukesha Board of Public Works approves multiple bids, rejects Fire Station HVAC bids, and authorizes DNR grant application

The Waukesha City Board of Public Works on Feb. 19 approved multiple contract awards and payments, rejected bids for a Fire Station 5 HVAC project that exceeded budget, voted to authorize a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources grant application for Deerpath flood mitigation, and approved a state municipal agreement for safety work at Sunset Drive and Guthrie Drive.

Eric Payne, staff member, told the board there are two final payments related to traffic-signal projects on Sunset Drive and asked that the payments be approved. The board approved the payments by recorded voice vote.

Payne also corrected a budget typo for the Davidson Road utility and street improvement project, saying, “The budget is $1,220,000 not $560,000 and the department recommends moving forward with the low bid from Musson Brothers in the amount of $1,064,017.25.” The board accepted the low bid and authorized the contract award.

The board approved a citywide 2026 concrete-sidewalk replacement low bid of $535,345, under a budgeted $560,000, after a member noted the low bidder (identified in the meeting as State Contractors) had performed similar work for the city previously.

On the Fire Station 5 HVAC project, Payne said bids came in well over the department’s estimate because one HVAC system uses a different refrigerant than assumed in the estimate. He said the department recommends rejecting the bids and repackaging the work with additional budget next year; the board voted to reject the bids.

Using an Omnia Partners/US Communities contract, the board approved both base and alternate tuckpointing bids for the Cemetery Chapel, with staff stating the combined cost is $64,600 and includes additional land and stone repairs.

The board approved an easement allowing Wisconsin Electric Power Company (We Energies) to install above- and below-ground electrical facilities on the clean-water plant property at 600 Century Drive to provide power to a newly built storage building.

For flood mitigation in the Deerpath subdivision, Payne described recent storm-related structure damage and asked the board to authorize submission of a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources municipal flood-control grant application. Payne said the grant would provide up to $600,000 with a 50/50 match requirement; the board authorized submitting the application.

The board also moved forward on a state municipal agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for Highway Safety Improvement Program work at Sunset Drive and Guthrie Drive. Payne said the state’s portion would be roughly $303,295 toward a total project cost of $338,994, with design beginning in 2029 and construction targeted for 2031; the board approved the agreement.

Votes at a glance: - 4A: Accept minutes from Feb. 5 — passed (ayes recorded in meeting: O'Donnell; Kevin Reilly; Pane). - 5A: Approve two final payments for Sunset Drive traffic-signal projects — passed (voice vote recorded). - 6A: Award Davidson Road utility and street improvement to Musson Brothers, $1,064,017.25 — passed. - 6B: Award 2026 citywide concrete-sidewalk replacement, low bid $535,345 — passed. - 6C: Reject Fire Station 5 HVAC bids (to repackage and add budget next year) — passed. - 7A: Approve Cemetery Chapel tuckpointing (base + alternate) — passed (total $64,600). - 7B: Approve easement to Wisconsin Electric Power Company at 600 Century Drive — passed. - 7C: Authorize submission of Wisconsin DNR municipal flood-control grant for Deerpath (up to $600,000; 50/50 match) — passed. - 7D: Approve SMA with Wisconsin DOT for Sunset/Guthrie safety improvements (state share ~$303,295; total ~$338,994) — passed.

The board received communications about three upcoming bid openings (large asphalt resurfacing, a boiler replacement project, and the Deer Trails and Fox Lake Village pump station project) scheduled for March 6 and an operations update on leaf pickup before adjourning.