Minutes: Public Works: August 2006

Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, August 28, 2006, 6:00 p.m.
City Hall, 31 S. Madison St., Evansville, WI

1. Call the meeting to order @ 6:00 PM.
2. Roll Call: Ald. Hammann (Chair) & Ald. Juergens. Staff: Dave Wartenweiler, Public Works Director and Dave Saucer, City Engineer. Absent: Ald. Sornson. Quorum attained.
3. Minutes of July meeting unanimously approved on a Juergens-Hammann motion.
4. Citizen appearances - NA
5. Downtown Streetscape Plan
The WiDOT will award its $500,000 downtown enhancement grant in 3 weeks.

Once WiDOT the decision, Evansville can start putting together its budget. Discussed timeline for finalizing downtown renovation plan:

Sept. - Review preliminary street design itemized budget.
Oct. - Main Street design budget decisions (i.e. Paving bricks in or out).
Nov. - Final Main Street renovation budget & design approval.
Dec. - City Engineer present final Main Street engineering drawings and rendering (Public Comment)
Jan. - Main Street Streetscape plan open house

Jeff Farnsworth discussed “windmill” designs.

6. Lake Leota Reclamation Plan
Below is a summary of SOLE’s presentation:
What’s been done?
• Strand Engineering study
• Lake draw down to study lake bed, inspect the dam and compact the silt
• Kiosk to communicate plans and timelines
• Consultations with experienced lake reclamation experts on different methods to remove sediment
• Evaluation of sediment storage locations and logistics
• Determination of what DNR permits and regulations are needed to carry out any reclamation plan
What has been learned?
• The volume of sediment in the lake
• Natural springs in the southwest side
• The history of the dam and sluice
• The need for a lower outlet level to get the remaining water out of the sediment
• The shape of Allen creek through the lake bed
• The causes of the sediment buildup
Where are we now?
• Lake has been drawn down for 10 months
• The dam is in good repair
• The sluice gate has a cement embankment in front of it to prevent sediment blockage
• The cement embankment is too high to complete sediment de-watering
• The project is at a critical juncture in order to proceed with any sediment removal plan
Next Milestones
• In order to get to a point of being able to remove any large quantity of sediment, the outlet level of the lake must be lowered
• Any plan to alter the sluice cement embankment has to be approved and funded by the public works department
• A comprehensive plan to reclaim the lake must be proposed and accepted by the parks committee, the public works committee and the city council
Proposed plan overview
• Get a design of altering the sluice cement sediment embankment approved by the DNR and the public works committee
• Decide the plan for sediment removal
• Decide the plan for removal of the east spillway and building of a fish ladder
• Decide the plan for rebuilding the sluice embankment to function as intended
• Overall project costs and timeline
• Approvals and funding
Step One
• Design of the alteration to the existing sluice sediment embankment must be approved by the DNR dam specialist and the city engineer
• Contractor, cost and timetable must be established
• The overall plan must be submitted to show how the first step fits into the overall plan
• Approval by the committees to alter the sluice must be expeditious to get the job done before fall wet season hampers work
Step Two
• Approval of the overall plan, funding and timeline must be galvanized by the DNR, park and public works committees and the city council to allow continuation of the project
• An environmental impact study must be completed by the DNR
Step Three
• Commencement of the excavation
 Authorization confirmation of sediment transport over private lands
 Contractor hired
 Weather and sediment conditions to dictate start
 Contingency plan against mother nature
Step Four
• Removal of east spillway
 Redirection of creek though east spillway fork
 Rebuilding of sluice sediment embankment retainer to operate as originally to be opened at regular intervals to clear sediment in front of the sluice and allow proper movement of the gate
Step Five
• Redirect the creek back through the rebuilt sluice
• Replace the east spillway with a rock fish ladder
• Refill the lake using the sluice to control the flow incrementally through the outlet and not detrimentally restrict the flow downstream
Step Six
• Establish partnerships with land owners upstream to reduce the amounts of soil erosion flowing into the lake
• Institute preventative measures to ensure proper use of the sluice to prevent excess sediment build up in front of the sluice
• Develop conservation plan to provide for aquatic life and recreational use
Answers to question made during the presentation:
• SOLE estimate dredging cost to be $2/cyd. Total project cost $500,000 to $600,000.
• Discussed how critical the V-notch in the sluice gate in completing dewatering the lake.


City Engineer’s Report on Lake Leota Restoration
• Discussed cutting a large V-notch into the existing sluice gate and a cofferdam down stream. The cofferdam is required if we want to Fill Lake Leota back up again. This will allow us a simple method for draining the filling the lake.
• The city engineer showed his calculation and preliminary designs.
• This design allows for temporary lowering the elevation to facilitate dewatering of the lake.
• The city engineering presented a budget and timeline for the project:
V-notch into the existing sluice gate
Saw cut and removal $4,000
Excavate and soil erosions protection $5,500
Equipment Mobilization $2,500
Cost for V-notching in existing sluice gate $12,500
Cost for Coffer Dam & dewatering $16,000
Total project cost is $28,500 + engineering and an estimated 4 – 6 weeks for completion. The city engineer budget request is for $35,000 for cutting a V-notch and constructing a cofferdam. Budget request will be discussed at next months Public Works meeting.
• Direct City Engineer to submit his plans to DNR for approval unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
7. Communications from City Engineer
A. Approval of Sidewalk Bid
The city received 3 bids for the sidewalk construction at 2nd and Fair Street. The project is estimated at 5,000 sqft and 3 handicap intersections.
1. Rock River Concrete: $4.5 sqft or $22,750.
2. Johnson Brothers: $3.70/sqft (4”), $4.15 sqft (6”) and $260 for each handicap intersection for a total of $19,280.
3. Allen Construction: $22,240.
• Awarded Johnson Brothers bid of $3.70/sqft for 4” sidewalk; $4.15 sqft for 6” sidewalk and $260 for each handicap intersection unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
B. Discussion regarding hiring of additional city engineering services for North Prairie Production biodiesel fuel facility project
North Prairie hired Foth & Van Dyke to provide engineering services for items such as environmental services and site plan design. The city encourages North Prairie to consult Foth & Van Dyke, but we see a potential conflict of interest.
• Recommend the Mayor to hire an engineering firm to review Foth & Van Dyke designs for TID #6 & #7 unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.
8. Communications of Public Works Director
• Motion to direct Superintendent of Public Works to prohibit parking on Water Street, north side, from South Madison Street to Maple Avenue; and Water Street, south side, from South Madison Street to Almeron Street, until road construction on South Madison Street is completed in 2006

Reviewed Madison Street underground utility work construction schedule and potential detour routes.

• Direct Superintendent of Public Works to prohibit parking on Water Street, north side, from South Madison Street to Maple Avenue and Water Street, south side, from South Madison Street to Almeron Street, until road construction on South Madison Street is completed in 2006 unanimously approved on a Hammann-Juergens motion.

Current Public Works projects include:
• Competed turning the former Farnsworth Ceramic Shop into a youth community center.
• Sign Replacing
• Starting a new bathroom in Countryside Park.
• Mowing at cemetery & city parks.
• Cutting down & removing storm damaged trees.
• Street sweeping.
• Painting traffic signage
• Sewer cleaning
• Brush pickup 1st week of each month.
9. New Business
Westside Park Seeding
Discussed the city purchasing seed rather then the Soccer Club. Discussed two types of sports turf.
10. Meeting adjourned @ 7:46 p.m. on a Hammann-Juergens motion
Next Meeting: Monday, September 25 at 6:00 p.m.
Bill Hammann Chair, Public Works Committee