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, March 2, 2026, at 6:00 P.M. Alders present: Antoine (Zoom), Eggleston, Kilgas, Moore, Schell, Schumacher, and Thiele. Also present: Mayor Penterman, Attorney Greenwood, DPW/Eng. Neumeier, Associate Planner Nelson, Project. Eng. Conger, Com. Enrich. and Rec. Dir. Vosters, Street Foreman Nelson, Mark. and Com. Manager Fencl (Zoom), Fire Chief Carrel (Zoom), and interested citizens. Absent & Excused: DeCoster. Motion by Moore, seconded by Schell to excuse the absent member. All Ald. Present Voted aye. Motion carried. 1. Correspondence – none. 2. Discussion Topics. a. Recommendation to Award Bid for Project 7-26 Ann Street Utility Relay. The Engineering Department has reviewed and analyzed six bids received on February 25th , 2026 at 4:00pm for Project 7-26 Ann Street Utility Relay 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. Five of the six bidders were within $112,000, which shows that the bids were competitive. The lowest bidder was $45,929.25 lower than the Engineer estimate, and was $52,909.75 lower than the second lowest bidder, which shows that the city is getting a great price to complete this work. Motion made by Moore, seconded by Kilgas to award Project #7-26 Ann Street Utility Relay to Feaker & Sons, De Pere, WI for Base Bid Units A through C and Alternate Bid Units D and E, a total amount of $1,320,792.00. All Ald. Present voted aye. Motion carried. b. Authorization to seek bids for the replacement of a Skid Steer. The current skid steer within the DPW fleet is a 2008 John Deere 317. This machine has fulfilled operational needs for many years, but as the city grows, so does the demand for maintenance. With this machine being a wheeled skid steer, it has its limitations with traction and working on side slopes while causing excessive damage to turfgrass. Replacing this machine with a tracked skid steer would help with the operational challenges noted. When this replacement was originally discussed and budgeted, $50,000 was allocated for replacement of the skid steer with a dirt bucket, which is still a good budget number. We would also be looking to have alternate bids within the packet for a snow pusher and boom mower. These two implements would increase the projects and seasons this machine could be used. The Street Department would be able to increase its storm pond maintenance while reducing or eliminating the need for a rented tractor and boom mower each year that costs $5,000 a week. Motion made by Eggleston, seconded by Schumacher to authorize the Street Superintendent to seek bids for the replacement of skid steer #30 with alternate attachments. All Ald. Present voted aye. Motion carried. c. Authorization to seek bids for a leaf loader conversion kit. This project was first introduced when authorization was granted to purchase a new automated garbage truck in 2025. With the arrival of the new garbage truck scheduled for May, the Street Department would like seek bids for the purchase of the Leaf Conversion Kit and begin preparations to convert garbage truck #228 to a one-person leaf collector. Current leaf collection operations take 3 to 4 staff members per collector. This conversion kit will allow for more available staff during the busy fall season while enhancing our leaf collection efforts. Every year in late fall we run into challenges with trying to get all leaves collected while also being prepared for early snow events. This one-man collector will allow for continued late fall collections while other collection equipment can be prepared for snow removal. Motion made by Kilgas, seconded by Schell to authorize the Street Superintendent to seek bids for a Leaf Conversion Kit. All Ald. Present voted aye. Motion carried. d. Request for Vacation of an Easement – 37 Ash Grove Place. Trevor and Mindi Hansmann are requesting that the City of Kaukauna vacate a 35’ drainage easement located in the rear yard on their property at 37 Ash Grove Place. The Hansmanns have been working with City staff and Davel Engineering on the removal of this drainage easement. To the west of 37 Ash Grove Place is the Union Cemetery property which has an offsite catch basin within the cemetery. Union Cemetery has agreed to allow use of this offsite catch basin with a formal storm sewer and drainage easement agreement. If the 35’ drainage easement were to be removed and the agreement with Union Cemetery signed, the impact would be negligible, and the subdivision would continue to exceed City ordinance for stormwater quantity control. Motion made by Moore, seconded by Schumacher to recommend approval the resolution vacating the 35’ drainage easement located at 37 Ash Grove Place contingent upon the new storm sewer and drainage agreement with Union Cemetery being signed and recorded with Outagamie County. All Ald. Present voted aye. Motion carried. 3. Adjourn. Motion made by Schumacher, seconded by Moore to adjourn. All Ald. Present voted aye. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:20 pm. Kayla Nessmann, Clerk