Minutes: Public Works: July 20, 2006

Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes
  
Regular Meeting

Thursday, July 20, 2006, 6:00 p.m.

City Hall, 31 S. Madison St., Evansville, WI

Call the meeting to order @ 6:00 PM.
Roll Call: Ald. Hammann (Chair) & Ald. Sornson , Ald. Juergens. Staff: Dave Wartenweiler, Public Works Director. Absent: Dave Sauer, City Engineer & Bruce Woods, Street Architect. Quorum attained.
Minutes of June meeting unanimously approved on a Hammann-Sornson motion.
Approval of Agenda - Dave Sauer, City Engineer is required to attend a meeting in Broadhead and requested we cover the CMAR report, Badger Drive bids, bridge over Allen creek, and bowling alley encroachment all before 7 p.m. These items were moved up in the agenda.
Citizen appearances - NA
Main Street Reconstruction
Discussion and possible motion to approve City Bike Path locations

Bike Trails are a critical part of the DOT grant application. Presently, there are no bike trail routes through the City. Local trails are needed to complement the sidewalk system and provide additional choices for pedestrians, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts. Ideally, trails would traverse the City to link together residential areas, parks and recreation facilities, schools, and the downtown.

Reviewed & fine-tuned the current City Street Bicycle plan.

City Street Bicycle plan unanimously approved on a Juergens-Sornson motion.
Update of Paving Bricks in Main Street Reconstruction in 2007

Jeff Farnsworth is investigating applying for a department of Commerce Community Development block grant. He will ask the residents to fill out a questionnaire.

Bench & Trash Receptacles

Mayor Decker discussed fabricating benches & trash receptacles with Baker manufacturing. Bruce Woods will work with Baker Mfg. on design.

Bike Rack
Jeff Farnsworth submitted a “windmill” bike hitch design with a Baker Mfg. medallion.

Lake Leota Restoration
Working on Kiosk in the park.

Communications from City Engineer
Approve bids for the "west side park grading project, contract 06EV-4". Project was bid on 7/13/06. The parks committee is making recommendation to public works at their 7/17/06 mtg.

The budget for grading was set at $70,000. This is only enough to grade 4 acres for the 2 Soccer fields.

Discussed on Westside park capitol budget plan. Recommend the following projects be added to the 2007 capitol plan: road & parking lot construction, complete landscaping & Playground.

R&K and Sons bid of $48,175 for grading 2 Soccer Fields in west side park, contract 06EV-4 unanimously approved on a Hammann- Juergens motion.
Approve bids for the "city hall roof replacement and exterior upgrades, contract 06EV-2". The project is bidding on 7/18/06.

The budget for city hall roof replacement and exterior upgrades was set at $207,000. The construction will take 8 weeks and has been approved by historic preservation.

Krause Konstruction Co. bid of $139,330 for city hall roof replacement and exterior upgrades, contract 06EV-2 unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
Communications of Public Works Director
Park & Recreation Board recommended that Public Works discontinue the practice of stockpiling leaves and brush behind the Seminary Apartments. The public works director said this location is near the center of the older section of Evansville, expediting the fall leaf pick up process. After completion of leaf pick up in late fall, the leaves are transferred to farm field to use as fertilizer. This practice has been in place for 10 years.

Discussed alternatives to stockpiling leaves and brush behind the Seminary Apartments. The Public Works director suggested stockpiling the leaves at the following locations: Leota Park, Wind Prairie Park, city dump and new public works garage.

Ald. Sornson suggested continuing the practice stockpiling leaves and brush behind the Seminary Apartments as the lowest cost option.

Direct Public Works director to use the asphalt area near the new Public Works garage for stockpiling leaves and brush unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
Current Public Works projects include:

Carpeting the former Farnsworth Ceramic Shop for youth community center.
Sign Replacing
Completed new bathrooms in Leota Park.
Mowing at cemetery & city parks.
Cutting down & removing storm damaged trees.
Street sweeping.
Brush pickup 1st week of each month.
Discussion on potential plans for the use of Seminary park.

Water Street will be paving from Exchange to Main St. in August.

Publics Works director discussed a mutual aid agreement in case of natural disaster with 30 communities including Janesville, Beloit, & Rock County.

2007 Public Works Operating Budget
Recommend the following changes in the operating budget:

Increase traffic control budget to account for maintenance of new traffic light on Hwy. 14 & county road M intersection.
Add another seasonal employee for park maintenance.
Request information on the following items:

Extending Onyx trash removal contract.
Public benefit for water softener replacement.
Examine Sewer fees.
Request reviewing WWTP account balance.
Unfinished Business
Ordinance #2006-__, amending Municipal Code relative to speed limits
Remove from table Ordinance #2006-__, amending Municipal Code relative to speed limits unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
Discussed reducing speed limit on county road M to 35 MPH within city limits.

Ald. Hammann’s motion for Ordinance #2006-__, amending Municipal Code relative to speed limits failed for lack of second.
New Business
Discussion and possible motion to approve 4-way stop sign at Badger & Higgins Drive intersection

Discussed temporary squaring off interection as a passive speed control measure.

Recommend to Public Safety an Ordinance amending stop sign locations to include 4-way stop sign at Badger & Higgins Drive intersection unanimously approved on a Hammann-Sornson motion.
Meeting adjourned @ 9:27 p.m. on a Hammann-Juergens motion
Next Meeting: Monday, August 28 at 6:00 p.m.

Bill Hammann Chair, Public Works Committee