Peshtigo Council Accepts $2.7 Million Sewer Contract

Everything appears to be in place for construction of the City of Peshtigo’s new sanitary sewer line across the Peshtigo River to begin in spring. By unanimous vote at its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 7 Peshtigo City Council  followed the recommendation of the Water and Sewer Committee to accepted the low bid of $2,668,960.50 from Advance Construction, Inc. to do the construction.

The new sewer crossing line will replace the existing line that crosses BPM, Inc. property (formerly Badger Paper Mills). There have been easement issues between the city’s water and sewer utility and the paper mill, which is now operating its own on-site facility for disposing of wastewater from paper manufacturing operations.

The new main river crossing sewer line was designed by Ruekert and Mielke, Inc., the firm which has long served as consultants to the city’s Water and Sewer Committee.

Before the vote, Water and Sewer Committee member Fred Meintz told City Council they had been notified by the DNR on Monday, March 6 that plans for the river crossing line had finally been approved. Meintz, who was present on behalf of the Water and Sewer Committee, said the plans had been submitted more than five months ago, and normally the state agency is expected to approve or disapprove plans within three months.

He also said the headline on the story in last week’s Peshtigo Times had incorrectly stated the low bid price was $3.7 million.

Mayor Cathi Malke agreed the price would actually be rounded to $2.7 million, and a Peshtigo Times reporter apologized for the typographical error in the headline. She noted the body of the story had the correct amount of the bid.

Meintz said the utility has also spent about $100,000 on engineering for the project, and noted the final cost for the utility may be far below the $2.7 million mark, since they will hopefully get 40 percent of the costs forgiven if principal forgiveness is included in a financing grant.

Also on recommendation of the Water and Sewer Committee, Council approved an agreement to have Ruekert and Mielke, Inc. proceed with updating the sewer user charge system at a cost of $6,500, and authorized Northern Pipe to proceed with sanitary sewer repairs and grouting to be done at a cost of not more than $24,500, as directed by the interim Public Works director.

At the start of the meeting Malke saluted Kathy Crabtree, for being named Volunteer of the Year by N.E.W. Credit Union in a competition that includes candidates from the multiple communities that the credit union serves. Malke thanked Crabtree for all she does for Peshtigo, and assured her, “Your work hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

Crabtree said she had received two checks from the Credit Union, one for her own personal use, and one to be given to a charity of her choice. She then presented the $250 check to Peshtigo Fire Chief Chuck Gardon for use by the Fire Department.

Malke said she has been working hard to get state funding for improvements to West Park Drive through the WisDOT Safe Transportation Alternatives (TAP or STARS) Program for Rural Schools. She has attended three state meetings so far in quest of the funding, and will be attending more, in addition to filling out all the necessary paper work. At her request, Council voted unanimous approval of  a resolution supporting the project.

The resolution, read by Alderman Keith Klimek, states that West Park Drive, a major roadway leading to the Peshtigo Elementary School, is in desperate need of reconstruction, and has safety issues for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists that need to be addressed. It mentions missing pavement and pot holes as safety concerns, as well as added lighting. “West Park Drive is one of the narrowest, shoulder less and yet one of the busiest roads during the school season,” the resolution states.

The resolution explains the city seeks funding to replace and widen West park Drive, add curb, gutter, sidewalk, and possibly a bike lane and lighting, which “would help tremendously or the safety of our children walking or riding their bikes to school.” It goes on to say that in Peshtigo safety of the children always comes first, and predicts that with safe routes developed parents would be more likely to allow and encourage children to walk to school instead of riding, which would promote a better health style for them.

Also unanimously approved was a request from American Transmission Company for an additional 50-foot easement along the railroad tracks behind ERDA for a high voltage utility transmission line. City Attorney David Spangenberg said in late December the city had received a letter from ATC asking to negotiate the 50-foot addition to the existing easement. They had negotiated, and ATC is offering to pay the city $5,200 for the addition, “which basically is an addition to what we have now.” He said at his request ATC had made a few changes to its initial offer, mainly that they agree to educate adjoining land owners on issues with high voltage lines. Spangenberg said this is a permanent easement, which he believes will run all the way to Oconto. He said ATC will maintain the right of way, keeping it clear of brush, dead branches, etc.

To a question from Alderman Brigitte Schmidt, Malke said ERDA has no problems with the easement as long as ATC maintains the easement properly.

To questions from Alderman Debbie Schmidt in regard to possible health issues, Spangenberg said there are state statutes in regard to that. By unanimous vote, Council agreed to the easement, with wording subject to Spangenberg’s approval.

Due to some unanswered questions last month, Council had postponed a decision on approval of a certified survey map dividing improved and unimproved portions of a property owned by Moran Investments, LLC at 370 Splake Court and 371 N. Beebe Ave. Splake Court residents had been concerned that Moran Investments could some day construct an apartment building on the 3.7-acre undeveloped parcel, and make the access from Splake Court, which is currently a cul de sac that serves only private one-family residences.

Mike Andraschko, who represented the survey company, Mau and Associates, LLP had been unwilling or unable at the Council  meeting in February to answer questions from the Council as to why Moran Investments wanted their apartment buildings parcel separated from the undeveloped acreage on the property.

At Tuesday’s meeting he said Moran Investments has no current plans to build anything on the property, but needs the property split due to a divorce in the family that requires them to split assets.

Alderman Katie Berman asked if the Council could approve the survey split with conditions that would require them to come back to the Plan Commission if and when they wanted to build on the new parcel.

Malke felt this would be good, because the neighbors who live on the cul de sac do not want the increased traffic that an apartment building entry off Splake Court could create.

Andraschko agreed with the reason behind the neighbors concerns, but said the property, divided or not, is already zoned residential, and an apartment complex could be built on it. He felt a land division is not the place to put provisions for use of a public road for a entry to a business property, which an apartment complex would be.

Spangenberg said the applicable ordinance is vague, and advised Council could include some conditions with the approval if they chose.
Andraschko commented that right now some of the neighbors could divide their properties and bing more traffic to Splake Court. He felt if Moran Investments ever does put up an apartment building on the currently vacant parcel they could have access from Beebe Ave., and indicated his belief that the owners would not object to such a restriction.

Rick Neumann said he and other Splake Court property owners have no problem if single family homes are built there, but do have concerns about an apartment building having a driveway on Splake court. “We bought thinking this would be a single family access area,” he added.
Andraschko said he would go out on a limb and say his client would have no problem with a condition stipulating that Splake Court could not be used as access for apartments.

Spangenberg suggested a motion to approve the certified survey, but with the condition that if the new parcel is developed as multi-family housing, access would have to be from Beebe Ave. If it is developed for single family dwellings access could be from either Beebe or Splake Court. A motion to that effect was finally approved without dissent.

Fishing is generally good in the Lion’s Club Pond at the east city limits, but may soon get even better. After an explanation by Parks and Recreation Director Lori Tonn, Council unanimously approved a request from the City of Marinette Police Department to use the pond for a “Cops and Bobbers” event to be held in May, in which kids will be invited to fish with law enforcement officers from all over the county. She said this will be an area-wide event, and will include Peshtigo Police and Sheriff’s Department as well as City of Marinette Police and other area law enforcement officers.

As hosts of the event, the Marinette Police have made arrangements to stock the pond with a fresh supply of fish, and are are working with the DNR to be sure they do it properly, Tonn said. Malke said plans are to plant quite a few fish, and expressed confidence that there will be some left swimming after the Cops and Bobbers event is done.

After a few questions posed by Klimek were answered, Council approved purchase of a 4-wheel drive Kubota F lawn mower with a diesel engine for $29,860. Klimek was told the unit will replace two mowers purchased three years ago that are inconstant need of expensive repairs. One of them will be sold.

Council also approved transferring the duties of ditch mowing along Frontage Road from Parks to the Public Works Department because they have a large flail mower. Tonn said the Parks Department will continue to do finishing work there.

Also approved was a wage increase to $14 per hour for the Parks Supervisor and Weed Harvester positions, “while remaining within budget,” as recommended by the Parks and Recreation Committee.

At meetings on Jan. 23 and March 3 the committee had also discussed repairs needed for the Skateboard park, discussed Urban Air Weekend, approved opening Badger Park Campground early for walleye fishing, approved comping all camping fees for military veterans and frontline workers for a COVID pandemic weekend, authorized the DNR to do a fish survey on the Lions’ Fishing Pond, discussed improvements to the lower boat ramp, authorized Tonn to place two stop signs on the Badger Park driveway, and reviewed Park and Recreation, Peshtigo School and the DAR Boys and Girls Club partnering for wrap-around summer school programs.

On recommendation of the Streets and Drainage Committee, Council approved two street use permits for The River Pub, one for the Jameson Wortner benefit on Saturday, April 15, and one for a block party on Saturday, Aug. 19. The authorization includes provisions or setting up the day before the events, with assurances that the events will not include use of city electricity, and setting up will be done after school traffic is gone for the weekend.

The Streets and Drainage Committee on Friday, March 3 had approved placing a dead end or no outlet sign on Meadow Lane, forwarded revisions to the Winter Parking Ordinance to the Judiciary Committee to review and update, and began discussions on installing a crosswalk between Badger Park and the beach. They had been informed that WPS has offered to replace existing street lights in the next several years with LED lights as their work schedule allows, at no cost to the city, and this is expected to  improve lighting while reducing electric bills.

At the end of the meeting Malke congratulated the Peshtigo Girls Bowling Team for taking 5th place in a competition wit”...there are many good things to come.”

Klimek commented two Peshtigo Wrestling Team members - Connor Thomas and Addie Olsen - qualified for state last week, and Malke extended congratulations to both of them.

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