PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

Monday, August 11, 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, Holmen Police Chief McHugh, Steve O’Malley, Cheryl Stephen  

CALL TO ORDER

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

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION by Schroeder/Johnson to approve minutes of July 7, 2008.  Motion carried unanimously.

CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION by Berns/Johnson to accept the following Consent Agenda items:

• Economic Development Fund minutes of July 10, 2008
• LEC Construction Committee minutes of July 8, 2008

Motion carried unanimously.  

PUBLIC COMMENT

None requested.  Committee Chair Spiker noted Police Chief McHugh would be allowed to speak under agenda item #10.

APPROVE VOUCHERS OVER $20,000

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

Motion carried unanimously.

RESOLUTION RE:  APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER FOR FINAL COVER AND GAS SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION AT THE LA CROSSE COUNTY LANDFILL

Brian Tippets reviewed.  In June 2008, the County Board approved the contract for final cover and gas system construction at the County landfill.  Survey work for the project area is 1.5 to 2 acres larger than was originally stated in the bid, so this will increase the contract price of approximately $225,000-$275,000.  The project is underway and the contractor is proceeding at their own risk as the change order has not been approved and work not authorized.   MOTION by Johnson/Pfaff to approve the resolution which approves the changes order as requested with the cost being paid from the Solid Waste Undesignated Fund Balance.  Committee Chair Spiker noted lengthy discussion on change orders at the last County Board meeting, in particular on how to handle when work has already started prior to County Board approval.  Change orders should not proceed without approval.  Motion carried unanimously.   

RESOLUTION RE:  AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSFER FUNDS FROM FUND BALANCE RESERVE-PARKS AND REVENUE ACCOUNT TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF LAKE NESHONOC BOAT LANDINGS AND DOCKS

Jim Speropulos reviewed noting $60,000 budgeted in 2007 and 2008 budgets for this project.  The project includes 2 replacement boat landings and 2 replacement portable boat docks – all at existing locations on the west and south side of the lake.  After the bids came in, approximately $30,000 under budget due mainly because of increase in cost of materials, plus did not include design fees.  The Neshonoc Lake Rehabilitation and Protection District is aware of the project as they reviewed the original plans.  MOTION by Schroeder/Benrud to approve the resolution which authorizes approval of the two low bids, being:  Strupp Trucking in amount of $54,250 for doing the two boat landings and Waterworks, Inc. for providing the two portable boat docks, plus in addition, approve the account transfers of $20,796 from Parks Fund Balance Reserve and transfer $9,204 from Revenue-sale of dredge materials.  Motion carried unanimously.  Other bidders were Voss & Sons in amount of $55,997 for 2 boat landings and Port-a-Pier in amount of $30,500 for 2 portable boat docks.    

APPROVE BID FOR PLOW BLADES

Dennis Osgood reviewed, noting the Highway Dept. requested bids on various sizes of plow blades and plow bolts.  Five bids were received, though two of them were incomplete bids.  Dennis recommended approval of the low bid from U.S. Blade & Chain in amount of $36,088.68, though they could not provide the 6” plow bolts; estimated cost to purchase the bolts from local vendor is $100, leaving U.S. Blade & Chain as the lowest bidder.  Committee Chair Spiker questioned if the low bid could be accepted without the bolts included.  Dennis noted per County rules, a committee can approve a bid based on “most advantageous to the County.”  MOTION by Johnson/Pfaff to approve the low bid from U.S. Blade & Chain in the amount of $36,088.68 for the purchase of various sizes of plow blades and plow bolts.  Dennis noted the purchase would be made from the Machinery Fund.  Motion carried unanimously.  Other bidders were:  Burke Truck @$39,149.96 and Gray’s Inc. @$39,915.36; Winter Equipment and MHL System submitted incomplete bids.   

APPROVE BID FOR LOADER

Dennis reviewed, noting the Highway Dept. requested bids on a 3 cubic yard wheel loader, including trade-in of 1993 John Deere loader.  Six bids were received and after review, Dennis recommended approval of the low bid from Brooks Tractor in amount of $83,975.  MOTION by Johnson/Geary to approve the low bid from Brooks Tractor in amount of $83,975 for the purchase of a 3 cubic yard wheel loader, including trade-in of 1993 John Deere loader.  Dennis noted the purchase would be made from the Machinery Fund.  Motion carried unanimously.  Other bidders were:  St. Joseph Equipment @$87,658, FABCO @$92,000, Roland Machinery @$93,300, FABCO (2^nd bid) @$99,227, and Aring Equipment @$119,824.    

APPROVE USE OF NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON COUNTY ROADS WITHIN INCORPORATED LIMITS OF CITIES AND VILLAGES OF LA CROSSE COUNTY

Dennis reviewed.  He noted per DOT rules, neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) may be operated on local roads that have a speed limit of 35 MPH or less, provided the municipality that maintains the road has passed an ordinance allowing NEV operation on those specific routes.  If the County maintains a County Road going through a municipality, the County also has to approve it.  Based on that, Dennis recommends intergovernmental agreements between such municipalities vs. an ordinance.  Police Chief McHugh reviewed the Village of Holmen’s request pertaining to the operation of NEVs on County Roads DH, D, V, MH, SN and to cross HD at N/DH/MH; in addition he also noted the definition of an NEV; if the County does not approve, it will be difficult for the Village to enforce NEV operation on County Roads.  Discussion followed.  Committee concern of NEVs crossing MH where there are no stop lights.    Supervisor Johnson noted the City of La Crosse approved an NEV ordinance more than a year ago.  Pointed out that the City maintains the County Roads within the city so the county does not need to approve.  MOTION by Benrud/Pfaff to authorize staff to work on intergovernmental agreements between the County and any municipality that is requesting neighborhood electric vehicles use on County Roads that are maintained by the County.  Motion carried unanimously.  

UPDATE ON 2009 HIGHWAY DEPT. BUDGET

Denny noted the price of asphalt is currently $63/ton though the County has a locked-in price of $37/ton for 2008.  The actual bid for 2009 will not be known until about March.  The $2 million planned for 2009 road reconstruction will not go far.  A way to stretch the dollars, one option could include 2” overlay vs. complete reclaiming of the existing pavement and paving a new mat, in particular for the lesser traveled roads; 2” overlay would use 1/3 less asphalt.  Steve O’Malley said another option is to look for other revenue sources and not do roads.  Informational.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

County Forest at Mindoro – maintain as forest or as trail system.

NEXT MEETING

Monday, September 8^th at 4:00 p.m. 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION by Pfaff/Johnson to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried unanimously.  The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

Disclaimer:  The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.

Cheryl Stephen, Recorder