Board of Public Works

BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS A meeting of the Board of Public Works was called to order by Chair Thiele on Monday, February 2, 2026, at 6:00 P.M. Alders present: Antoine (Zoom), DeCoster, Eggleston, Kilgas, Moore, Schell, Schumacher, and Thiele. Also present: Mayor Penterman, Attorney Greenwood, DPW/Eng. Neumeier, Payroll Coordinator Ault, Project Engineer Conger, Associate Planner Nelson, Fin. Dir. Van Rossum, Street Superintendent Van Gompel, Senior Accountant Roehl (Zoom), Mark. and Com. Manager Fencl (Zoom), and interested citizens. 1. Correspondence – none. 2. Discussion Topics. a. Recommendation to Award Project 2-26: Wisconsin Avenue Area Utility Relay - Phase 1. The Engineering Department has reviewed and analyzed ten bids received on January 28, 2026, at 4:00pm for Project 2-26 Wisconsin Avenue Area Utility Relay – Phase 1 and compared said bids against the Engineer’s estimate that was put together prior to bid opening. The Engineer’s estimate is compiled utilizing previous years’ prices and adjusted for inflation and changes in work descriptions, while also anticipating where hidden costs may be. The lowest bidder was $290,190.46 lower than the Engineer estimate, and was $75,626.71 lower than the second lowest bidder, which shows that the city is getting a great price to complete this work. Nine of the ten bidders were within $295,000 which shows that the bids were competitive, and that the city is getting amazing pricing for this work. Motion made by Moore, seconded by Schell to award Project #2-26 Wisconsin Avenue Area Utility Relay – Phase 1 to Carl Bowers & Sons, Kaukauna, WI for Base Bid Units A thru C, a total amount of $961,191.54. All Ald. voted aye. Motion carried. b. Authorization to seek bids for Project 3-26 2026 Alley Paving Project. The Engineering Department has completed survey and is finalizing design for the reconstruction of the following alleys: Dixon/East Seventh Street Alley- Quinney Avenue to West terminus, East Seventh/Eighth Street Alley- Crooks Avenue to Metoxen Avenue, West Fourth/Fifth Street Alley – Miner Street to Main Avenue, and West Thirteenth/Fourteenth Street Alley – Hendricks Avenue to Main Avenue. The alley reconstruction and paving work will include removal of existing pavements and any existing base, installation of storm sewer in two of the alleys, installation stone base, asphalt pavement, driveway aprons, and restoration. Alders discussed concerns about how residents already paid for the street in front of their house and now must pay for the alley behind their house. It was also discussed how the alleys are in rough shape which makes it challenging for snow plowing and general access. Alder Eggleston stated that it is unsustainable to have residents pay for two streets, especially in older neighborhoods where the property values are not as high. While those assessments can be placed on the tax roll for 10 years, it is still a large dollar amount. Alder Eggleston expressed how financially challenging it could be to keep stacking assessments on residents. Department of Public Works Engineer Neumeier, stated that some of these older neighborhoods have never been repaved, had alleys repaved, or had any utilities redone, which is why these assessments are all happening at once. Neumeier stated they could space the assessments out but that would cost more money in maintenance, which is the trade off associated with holding off on some assessments. Motion made by Kilgas, seconded by Antoine to authorize the Engineering Department to seek bids for Project #3-26, 2026 Alley Paving. All Ald. voted aye. Motion carried. c. Authorization to seek bids for Project 8-26 2026 Sidewalk Rehabilitation Project. The city completes a sidewalk replacement project every other year. A sidewalk replacement project is scheduled for 2026. The purpose of the project is to identify sidewalks that are in the right-of-way and are defective. In addition to rehabilitating sidewalks, the program will also inspect crosswalk safety and make needed upgrades to existing crosswalks. Homeowners are given notice of defective sidewalk abutting their property and are given an opportunity to complete the work themselves or by a privately hired contractor. The City hired contractor will replace the sidewalk if the homeowner fails to do so and the cost is then assessed back to the abutting property owner. Motion made by Moore, seconded by Eggleston to authorize the Engineering Department to seek bids for Project 8-26: 2026 Sidewalk Replacement Program. All Ald. Voted aye. Motion carried. d. Authorization to seek Proposals for LaFollette Park Pavilion and Site Design. LaFollette Park is great local park with playground equipment, pickleball courts, basketball courts, restrooms, a rental pavilion, along with other amenities and great views. This park is located along Kenneth Avenue at Park Street and has close ties to the downtown, bus routes, the Nelson trail, and future bike lanes, giving us an opportunity to make it a destination for local and regional users. The park has aging restroom facilities, basketball surface, parking lot, and walking trails that all need updates to bring the park back up to safe and accessible conditions. Neumeier stated how they will involve the neighborhood and community in the design process by sending out notices to people in the neighborhood and having public input meetings. Neumeier also stated how they are not looking for bids at this time. They are looking for design services to help lay out what the park should look like. Once they have a final design, it will come back for permission to bid out the actual project. Motion made by Schumacher, seconded by DeCoster to authorize the Engineering Department to seek proposals for LaFollette Park Pavilion and Site Design. All Ald. Voted aye. Motion carried. e. Authorization to seek Proposals for Design of Kenneth Avenue - W 10th Street to Reaume Ave. The City of Kaukauna has applied for and has been awarded a Surface Transportation Program (STP) Urban project grant through Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) for Kenneth Avenue Reconstruction. The project design may start in fiscal year 2026 and construction has been tentatively scheduled for 2029. The grant includes up to 80% funding for design, construction, and oversight of participating costs. Motion made by Kilgas, seconded by Moore to authorize the Director of Public Works to seek Proposals for Design of Kenneth Avenue - W 10th Street to Reaume Ave. All Ald. Voted aye. Motion carried.  f. Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Transportation Grant for the County Highway KK Corridor Study Project. East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (ECWRPC), as the designated Appleton (Fox Cities) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), has been awarded a Safe Streets and Roads for All grant of $842,876 from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant will be used for two safety study projects in the Fox Cities area: completion of a County Highway KK Corridor study spanning 4.5 miles between John Street and State Highway 55, and completion of a City of Appleton Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. 3. Adjourn. Motion made by Eggleston, seconded by Schell to adjourn. All Ald. voted aye. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:34 pm. Kayla Nessmann, Clerk