PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
Monday, October 6, 2008
Administrative Center – Room 3220
4:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Charles Spiker, Arlene Benrud, Ralph Geary, Leon Pfaff, Jai Johnson, Jeff Schroeder, Jim Berns (exc/arr @4:05)
MEMBERS EXCUSED: None
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Jim Speropulos, Brian Tippetts, Dennis Osgood, Keith Back, Bryan Jostad, Steve O’Malley, Gary Ingvalson, Mary Powell, Ray Ebert, Cheryl Stephen
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Charles Spiker called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION by Schroeder/Benrud to approve minutes of September 8, 2008, and joint meeting minutes with Aging & Long Term Care Committee of September 8, 2008. Motion carried unanimously; Berns excused.
CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION by Benrud/Pfaff to accept the following Consent Agenda items:
Motion carried unanimously; Berns excused.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None requested.
APPROVE VOUCHERS OVER $20,000
Dennis Osgood distributed voucher information. MOTION by Geary/Johnson to approve, as presented, the following vouchers/check requisitions:
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$245,600.00 37,680.46 206,342.26 28,942.55 70,719.12 39,250.02 |
Motion carried unanimously; Berns excused.
REQUEST TO USE LAKE NESHONOC FOR SNOWMOBILE RACES
Jim Speropulos reviewed, noting the Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club has used Lake Neshonoc before for snowmobile racing events, though last time was in 2005; he recommends approval. Copies of the written request and a drawing of the race site and spectator areas were sent with the agenda. MOTION by Pfaff/Schroeder to approve the use of Lake Neshonoc on February 14, 2009, for snowmobile races as requested by the Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club, including requirement of liability insurance being submitted prior to. Motion carried unanimously; Berns excused.
RESOLUTION RE AUTHORITY TO ALLOW OPERATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Dennis reviewed, noting the committee discussed this back in August with direction for Corporation Counsel to draft an intergovernmental agreement. 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; if the County does not approve, it will be difficult for municipalities to enforce NEV operation on County roads. The resolution approves the intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Holmen and also grants authority for the committee to review and approve future intergovernmental agreements with other municipalities if requested. MOTION by Johnson/Geary to approve the resolution and the intergovernmental NEV agreement with the Village of Holmen. Motion carried unanimously.
ACT ON RFP FOR SALT STORAGE BUILDING
Dennis reviewed, noting due to the Highway Dept. ability of receiving salt per the state contract, there is need for extra salt storage; if run out of storage space, then will have to pay storage rent to the vendor. Currently, County salt storage capacity is 1600 ton. Dennis noted three bids received, though one not considered as the building footprint is not compatible with the building site. The remaining two bids were evaluated by an evaluation team based on qualifications and experience, understanding and approach to scope of work, and cost. Based on the evaluations, the team recommends approval of the bid as submitted by Cover-All who received the highest evaluation score as well as submitted the best price. Discussion on type of building, storage rental cost vs. cost to build, charge for sale of salt to municipalities, etc. MOTION by Pfaff/Johnson to approve Cover-All for the construction of a salt storage structure at the West Salem Highway Shop with a capacity of 5000 ton at a cost of $319,468 to paid from the Machinery Fund. Motion carried unanimously. The other bidder was Sprung at a cost of $358,510 which included more work provided by the Highway Dept.; the bid not considered was from Dome.
NEW HIGHWAY SHOP ALTERNATE ENTRANCE NEEDS COUNTY ROAD DESIGNATION
Dennis noted the new alternative entrance at the Highway Shop needs to be given a County Road designation/name. Suggestions included: WS (for West Salem), CS (for County Shop), or MW (for West of “M”). After minimal discussion, MOTION by Johnson/Berns to designate the new Highway Shop alternative entrance road as “MW”. Motion carried unanimously.
2009 HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT LIST
Denny distributed copies of the 2009 Highway Dept. equipment listing. Some questions and discussion, in particular on the purchase of a new van; Denny noted most of the van’s use is by other departments and is costly to the Highway Dept. as they only charge $.20 per mile for its use. MOTION by Pfaff/Benrud to approve the 2009 capital equipment list as presented by the Highway Dept. Motion carried unanimously. (Listing attached.)
OVERVIEW OF WHEEL TAX
Committee Chair Spiker noted this idea was mentioned by Supervisor Freedland. Steve O’Malley and Dennis reviewed, noting Milwaukee County ($20 per vehicle) and St. Croix County ($10 per vehicle) currently have enacted this revenue source while other counties had it with sunset dates ending. This is a revenue source, but too late for 2009. The State administrators the program and currently charges $.10 per vehicle. With 94,000 vehicles registered in La Crosse County, with some being exempt, it’s estimated that $930,000 could be generated in additional revenue that could be used for road maintenance/construction. Vehicles over 8,000 lbs. are exempt from wheel tax. Also noted that any municipality can enact such a law/ordinance, but the State needs 12-day notice as well as 60-day cancellation notice. Denny offered to make copies of the written information that he received.
REVIEW 2009 BUDGETS FOR FACILITIES/PARKS, SOLID WASTE, HIGHWAY
Steve O’Malley reviewed the following budgets, including some comments from the department heads:
Facilities – Net tax levy requirement increased by $35,000 as compared to 2008; some due to loss of parking lot revenue, increase in utility costs, and increases in wages & fringes. Total capital improvements for 2009 is $563,500 though nothing included for the Administrative Center as waiting on Campus Plan Study Committee to meet and make recommendations.
Parks – Less tax levy requirement than 2008, due to less capital improvements.
Solid Waste – No tax levy requirement for Solid Waste Management, though $112,350 tax levy requirement for Hazardous Materials Disposal program. No significant changes other than increases for wages and benefits. Plan to do more than $3 million in landfill renovation. Brian noted some fee increases needed for yard waste disposal, asbestos disposal, and drop-off site disposal. Some discussion on recycling fees, use of landfill methane gas for alternative energy, medication disposal, and Excel RDF plant closing and effects on the landfill.
Highway – Has largest tax levy increase of all the County departments and still not meeting all the road maintenance needs; some increases due to cost of asphalt & supplies and wages & benefits. After the budget was submitted to the County Administrator, the department will receive an additional $138,000 from the State; plan to use these funds for additional winter maintenance supplies vs. reducing the tax levy. Noted $2.1 million for road construction/maintenance for 2009 for three specific projects; same amount for future years 2010 through 2013. Some discussion on unfunded road projects; at a future meeting, the committee needs to review and prioritize, including funding options.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None requested.
NEXT MEETING
Monday, November 3rd at 4:00 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Schroeder/Benrud to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:18 p.m.
Disclaimer: The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.
Cheryl Stephen, Recorder