PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

Monday, July 7, 2008

Administrative Center – Room 3220

4:00 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Charles Spiker, Jim Berns, Arlene Benrud, Ralph Geary, Leon Pfaff, Jeff Schroeder, Jai Johnson

MEMBERS EXCUSED: None

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS PRESENT: Jim Speropulos, Brian Tippetts, Dennis Osgood, Keith Back, Mary Kaufmann, Steve O’Malley, Charlie Handy, Keith Carson (Collins Outdoor Advertising), Todd Mandell (CouleeCap), Cheryl Stephen

CALL TO ORDER

Committee Chair Charles Spiker called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION by Benrud/Johnson to approve minutes of June 9, 2008. Motion carried unanimously.

CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION by Pfaff/Benrud to accept the following Consent Agenda items:

Economic Development Fund minutes of June 5, 2008
Reports by Attendees at the Summer Highway Conference held in June at the Kalahari in Wisconsin Dells. Committee Chair Spiker noted 3 County Board members gave a report at the June County Board meeting; he asked for comments from other attendees. Supervisor Berns noted good workshops relating to state programs, revenues & lack of revenues, light-rail, and road impact. Dennis Osgood noted discussions relating to lack of funding, new guidelines for doing work on federal highways, testing of new bridge decking material, and 2 employees attended the Truck Safety workshop and brought back good ideas.

Motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None requested.

APPROVE VOUCHERS OVER $20,000

Dennis Osgood distributed voucher information at the meeting. MOTION by Pfaff/Geary to approve, as presented, the following vouchers/check requisitions:

Mathy Construction - $481,163.04
Milestone Materials - 20,342.72
Venture Fuels, LLC - 31,931.97

Motion carried unanimously.

RESOLUTION RE APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER FOR WASTE RELOCATION CONTRACT “D-06”

Brian Tippetts reviewed. Due to conditions encountered during the project, Foth Infrastructure & Environment (engineer) and St. Joseph Construction (contractor) have requested a change order that relates to four areas: 1) final pay quantities based on pay volumes resulted in reduction of $270,996.60, 2) additional cost of $208,848.00 incurred due to not having a fluff layer in place in Phase VI which resulted in longer haul distances and other inefficiencies, 3) final completion dates revised with an extension of 15 days, and 4) additional grading work needed due to removing contaminated soils at an estimated cost of $245,000. Total estimated cost for the change order is $182,851 which will be paid from the Solid Waste Undesignated Fund Balance. MOTION by Berns/Benrud to approve the resolution. Motion carried unanimously.

RESOLUTION RE SUPPORT FOR MEDICATION DISPOSAL PROGRAMS

Brian reviewed, noting this came about at a recent meeting of the Wisconsin Counties Association Steering Committee on Environment & Land Use. Jeff Schroeder is a member of this steering committee at which this subject was presented and discussed. The WCA steering committee resolution will be presented at the WCA Annual Meeting, but at this point, the resolution does not have a sponsoring county which is unusual but allowed by WCA rules. In order to minimize any irregularities with the process for approving the WCA medications disposal resolution, which is consistent with La Crosse County position, Steve O’Malley thought La Crosse County should pass and sponsor the resolution. MOTION by Schroeder/Johnson to approve the resolution. Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVE LEASE AGREEMENT RENEWAL WITH COLLINS OUTDOOR ADVERTISING

Jim Speropulos noted this as a 10-year renewal of lease agreement with Collins Outdoor Advertising. There are four large billboard signs on county-owned land located at Veterans Memorial Park. In lieu of receiving rental funds, the county gets seven (7) months of free advertising on one of the signs for Veterans Memorial Park, including entrance signage into the park. Keith Carson of Collins Outdoor Advertising was present to answer any questions. MOTION by Pfaff/Benrud to approve, as presented, the 10-year lease agreement with Collins Outdoor Advertising commencing on or about April 1, 2009. Motion carried unanimously.

RESOLUTION RE AUTHORIZATION TO SELL PROPERTY (907 8^TH AVE N / COMP #18-680-1) TO CITY OF ONALASKA

Charlie Handy distributed copies of pictrometry/aerial photo that showed the parcel as stated in the resolution. The parcel is 100’ x 100’ and was acquired through County real estate tax delinquency. Per state statutes, the County can sell its tax deeded land to any municipality within the County, and within the County Comprehensive Plan under the Housing Element, it states, “make tax delinquent lands available at below market rate prices to not-for-profit housing providers as sites for affordable housing that will return to the tax roll.” He also noted a small parcel in front of this parcel that the City of Onalaska needs to purchase in order to give the for sale parcel street access. The tax delinquent parcel was put out for bids but did not receive any interest, due mainly because of no street access. The City of Onalaska plans to work with CouleeCap to bring in affordable housing. Todd Mandell of CouleeCap was present and reviewed this particular type of housing program; most of the funds are federal funds with some State funds and there is a requirement of 25% local match. Pointed out same type of sale was made last month to the City of La Crosse. Lengthy discussion followed. Question raised on whether the County acquired the property in 2006 or earlier. Charlie or Jim will check this out prior to the County Board meeting. MOTION by Spiker/Benrud to approve the resolution, which authorizes the sale 907 8^th Avenue North, Onalaska (parcel #18-680-1) to the City of Onalaska in amount of $900. Motion carried on 6 to 1 vote: Schroeder-no.

APPROVE SALT BID (STATE CONTRACT)

Dennis reviewed. The bid for road salt for winter 2008-2009 was done through WisDOT at a negotiated price of 11.1% increase over last winter with North American Salt Company. Other salt providers

estimated increases of 20-25% over last winter. MOTION by Johnson/Benrud to approve the salt bid via state contract with North American Salt Co. at a price of $47.22/ton for total of 6,000 tons and an option to purchase 1,142 tons more if needed. Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVE BID FOR CURB & GUTTER FOR THE HIGHWAY SHOP ALTERNATE ENTRANCE

Dennis noted Paragon Associates, as the County engineer, solicited for concrete work (curb & gutter) as needed for the alternate entrance for the Highway Shop. Two bids were received and Paragon recommends approval of the low bid, that being Steiger Construction in amount of $69,519.12. The other bid was from Fowler & Hammer at a cost of $81,911.50. MOTION by Berns/Schroeder to approve, as presented, the low bid of Steiger Construction in amount of $69,519.12 for concrete work as needed for the Highway Shop alternate entrance. Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVE BID FOR HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER’S VEHICLE

Dennis noted the bid for the vehicle is part of the State of Wisconsin procurement bid. The vehicle was included in the 2008 Highway Dept. budget within the equipment list. MOTION by Pfaff/Schroeder to approve the procurement bid via the State of WI for a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe for total purchase price of $28,984.00. The current vehicle will be used as a spare and plan to sell an older pickup truck. Supervisor Johnson questioned if lighter duty, more fuel efficient vehicle was considered. Dennis noted with his discussions with other counties and due to La Crosse County terrain and driving conditions, this type of vehicle is best. Motion carried unanimously.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Update on road conditions after receiving heavy rains. Dennis noted some issues but not likely to receive any assistance from FEMA.
Gilster property issue at Lake Neshonoc

NEXT MEETING

Monday, August 11^th at 4:00 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION by Benrud/Schroeder 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