PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
Monday, September 10, 2007
Administrative Center – Room 3220
4:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Charles Spiker, Jim Berns, Leon Pfaff, Ralph Geary, Andrea Richmond, Jeff Schroeder, Jai Johnson (arr @4:05)
MEMBERS EXCUSED: None
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF & GUESTS: Dennis Osgood, Keith Back, Jim Speropulos, Mary Kaufmann, Brian Tippetts, Steve O’Malley, Tom Faella, Bill Shepherd, Don Bina, Ray Ebert, Cheryl Stephen, news media
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Charles Spiker called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION by Schroeder/Richmond to approve minutes of August 6, 2007. Motion carried unanimously; Johnson absent.
CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION by Richmond/Berns to receive and place on file the following Consent Agenda item:
Motion carried unanimously; Johnson absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None requested.
APPROVE CHECK REQUISITIONS OVER $20,000
Copies of the Highway Department check requisitions were sent with the agenda. MOTION by Pfaff/Richmond to approve the following check requisitions as presented:
Motion carried unanimously; Johnson absent.
RESOLUTION RE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO THE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN LA CROSSE COUNTY AND NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY REGARDING SALE OF FERROUS MATERIALS
Brian Tippetts reviewed. First he noted Northern States Power (NSP) is the legal name with which La Crosse County has a contract through, even though NSP is doing business as (dba) Xcel Energy. Ferrous materials are those that are picked up by magnets. Homeowners have the opportunity to recycle ferrous materials (e.g. steel cans) in their recycling programs, but about half of this ferrous still ends up in the trash. The trash is processed at the La Crosse County Recourse Recovery Facility which is owned and operated by Xcel Energy. During the processing of trash the ferrous is removed magnetically but is still very contaminated with waste and until recently, it has not been economical to further clean and recycle. Since February, AMG Resources in the Twin cities has been recycling the ferrous at a net revenue to La Crosse County and Xcel Energy. The recycling of this formerly wasted ferrous has a two-fold benefit – revenue generation and elimination of ferrous materials with associated costs from the landfill. No additional cost for this recycling and the estimated revenue could be $10,000/year. MOTION by Schroeder/Richmond to approve the resolution which authorizes Amendment No. 4 to the Solid Waste Disposal Service Agreement between La Crosse County and Northern States Power Company. Motion carried unanimously; Johnson abstained.
REPORT ON IMPACT OF RECENT FLOODING – FACILITIES/PARKS, HIGHWAY, SOLID WASTE
Facilities/Parks - Jim Speropulos noted flooding damage occurred in the area of Goose Island; no other County facilities or parks had any damage. Goose Island Campground was closed for one week with an estimated loss in revenue of $9,259.25. A written report was distributed.
Highway – Denny showed pictures via overhead projector of several County Roads that had extensive damage. Most occurred in the southern portion of the County near the Vernon County line. Total cost for County road repairs is estimated at $200,000.
Solid Waste – 3 pages of information were sent with the agenda. As of Sept. 6th, 187 loads from haulers and private parties totaling 672 tons and it’s still coming in. He also noted need for liner repair in Phase 1 of the landfill; the contractor is responsible but may submit a $10,000 claim for this repair; plus additional equipment and personnel hours. As of 8/28/07, the estimated costs relating to disaster debris management and flooding is $36,537.89.
DISCUSSION ON COUNTY HIGHWAY SHOULDER POLICY
This was referred from a previous meeting. In April, a letter was sent to the committee from the LAPC Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee Chair, requesting shoulder paving as priority on several County Roads; in July, the LAPC met and made a motion to adopt a policy recommending the County pave the shoulders on County Roads where practical and if funded. Dennis drafted a response letter that was included in the agenda packet; in conclusion it states, “The committee supports paved shoulders on any complete reconstruction projects where possible and where Federal and State monies are available to complete this work but not a blanket policy covering all county highways where it is not feasible or practical.” MOTION by Pfaff/Richmond to authorize the sending of Osgood’s response letter to the Chair of the LAPC Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Motion carried unanimously.
APPROVE STATE DOT DISCRETIONARY MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS – FLOOD RELATED
Dennis noted flood related costs for State highway repairs and restoration are unknown; Highway crews have already started the work. MOTION by Berns/Johnson to approve the two State DOT Discretionary Maintenance agreements as presented: #0032-76-30 non-interstate flood repair and #0032-76-02 interstate flood emergency. Motion carried unanimously.
RESULTS OF BRIDGE INSPECTIONS
Dennis reviewed. He noted since the adoption of Act 167 by the State, which allows higher weight limits (98,000 lbs.) for timber hauling trucks on State and County roads, the Highway Dept. hired an engineering firm to inspect bridges for weight capacity on various County roads. Weight limit capacity is recommended on eleven (11) County road bridges. Noted that some of the bridges listed are on town roads. MOTION by Pfaff/Berns to approve the weight limit capacity postings for the noted bridges as recommended by Westbrook Associated Engineers per their report dated July 2007. (See attachment.) Motion carried unanimously. Discussion on how to go about getting the law overturned; noted that even the local legislators had voted in favor of Act 167. Also discussion on the enforcement of the weight capacity postings.
RESOLUTION RE AUTHORIZE SURVEY AND APPRAISAL OF COUNTY RIPARIAN PROPERTY ADJACENT TO CERTAIN LOTS IN THE SHOREWOOD AREA
Jim Speropulos noted the DNR did grant the petition for the County to abandon public access to Lake
Neshonoc via its lands located in the Shorewood area. MOTION by Berns/Richmond to approve the resolution which authorizes County staff to carry out the intent of this resolution and previous others regarding the survey, appraisal and sale of specified County riparian land adjacent to lots 9-14 of Shorewood, a subdivision of residential lots in the Town of Hamilton. Motion carried unanimously.
DRAWING FOR OKTOBERFEST PARKING CONCESSIONS
Jim noted as done in previous years, two downtown campus parking lots are offered to county departments and other non-profit organizations as fundraising concessions during Oktoberfest. Being four county departments have submitted concession requests, it was not advertised to outside non-profits. MOTION by Geary/Richmond to approve the drawing of two (2) out of four as submitted, those being: Jail Ministry for Parking Lot A and County Mass Casualty Team for Parking Lot C. Motion carried unanimously.
APPROVE BID FOR REHABILITATION OF 12 BRIDGES ON LA CROSSE RIVER STATE TRAIL
Jim reviewed. A grant was submitted and approved to rehabilitate 12 bridges on the La Crosse River State Trail as part of snowmobile trail. The grant is 100% funded by State of WI Recreational Trails Act and U.S. DOT Federal Highway Commission. Six bids were received and staff recommends approval of the low bid. MOTION by Berns/Richmond to approve the low bid of Sebranek Shop in amount of $122,630 for rehabilitation of 12 bridges on the La Crosse River State Trail. Motion carried unanimously. Other bids were: Schultz Design & Construction at $144,200, Harter Trucking Inc. at $149,240, Voss & Sons Construction Inc., at $194,441, All American Lumber Inc. at $199,207, and Janke General Contractors Inc. at $227,000 / $226,500.
REPORT ON CONDITION OF HUBER CENTER
Jim showed photos of the inside of the former Huber Center noting water damaged areas. He noted the Fire Dept. is requesting action, such as continue to fix and heat it or another option is to tear down. He noted back in 2005, the County Board passed a resolution that included the tear down of the Huber Center, but at the same time the LEC Addition was also included. Since that time, there’s not been clear direction on the LEC Addition so the tear down was also held up. If proceed with tear down, could remove $10,000 from the 2008 budget for maintenance on the building. MOTION by Pfaff/Spiker to authorize staff to bring back a resolution for next month’s meeting regarding the details of the tear down of the Huber Center. Motion carried unanimously.
REPORT ON VANDALISM AT GOOSE ISLAND CAMPGROUND
A brief written report was submitted. Noted on July 8th, two men’s toilets in bathhouse #2 were vandalized; both were replaced at a cost of $361, plus labor.
UPDATE ON REQUEST BY VILLAGE OF WEST SALEM TO PURCHASE LAND FOR WATER TOWER
Steve O’Malley noted one meeting with Village officials thus far; nothing to report; hopefully by the October committee meeting.
UPDATE ON 2008 BUDGETS FOR FACILITIES/PARKS, SOLID WASTE, HIGHWAY
Steve O’Malley reviewed. His prepared budget for 2008 is in print and will be handed out by the end of
the month. A 2-page tax levy summary will be handed out at tonight’s County Board meeting as well as options for LEC Addition including funding ideas. Solid Waste/HHM has requested 1.25 positions to serve outlying counties relating to household hazardous materials; Solid Waste has also requested a 1.0 marketing position, but this was not included and maybe considered in 2009. Highway project for 2008 is County Road “V”, though funded from excess sales tax and not from short-term borrowing.
NEXT MEETING – TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9TH AT 4:00 P.M.
The regular monthly meeting was moved to Tuesday in order to accommodate those who will be attending the WCA Annual Conference in Wisconsin Dells.
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
Supervisor Pfaff requested discussion on Mindoro Park, including future projects. Supervisor Schroeder asked how to get items on the agenda. Committee Chair Spiker suggested contacting him or Cheryl at the Board Chair Office. Anytime a Supervisor has a question, just contact the department head directly.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Schroeder/Richmond to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:07 p.m.
Disclaimer: The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.
Cheryl Stephen, Recorder