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Village awards contract for water relay projects, Ruekert Mielke undercut by over $33,000
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By Andrew Kuehl
02/15/08 KEWASKUM- KEWASKUM- The village board has decided to award a water relay project on Roseland and Braatz Drive to McMahon Associates of Neenah. The village’s designated engineering firm Ruekert Mielke, also submitted a bid for $33,309 in comparison to McMahon’s $10,000 proposal.
The project’s scope includes the installation of the water relay in Roseland Drive from Clinton Street westerly to Prospect Street. Improvements to Roseland Drive include minor storm sewer reconstruction as well as curb and gutter and pavement replacement.
The second water relay project takes place in Braatz Drive from Edgewood Road easterly to the end of the eastern portion of Western Avenue. Improvements to Braatz Drive include a realignment of storm sewer from the Braatz Drive cul-de-sac westerly on Braatz Drive and northerly along Western Avenue to the intersection of Knights Avenue and Western Avenue, curb and gutter replacement incidental to utility relays and pavement replacement.
“We have some water mains that have a history of breaks. A water main can break anyplace, but we have some with a high number of breaks over the years,” stated Department of Public Works Director Jerry Gilles.
Gilles says the process of adding a water main relay begins by adding a new water main. The main is then tested and samples are taken, when safe samples are received, connection to customers occurs. “This presents some difficulties, as while the new water main is being installed, the old water main must remain in service. To complicate things a little more, an eight-foot horizontal separation is required between any water main and any sanitary sewer or storm sewer. At times it can be difficult to locate pipes in the street to meet all of these requirements,” heexplained.
The next step in the process will be to advertise and take bids from contractors. After award of the bid by the Village Board, the contractor will begin the work.
Developer Gary Gavin, who was in attendance on another matter, shared his thoughts with the board before a unanimous vote was taken, “I think it’s fantastic that the village has finally wised up and gotten more than one engineering firm. My concern is, if you are going to want any more development you have to get rid of Ruekert and Mielke. They are just raping us developers every chance they get. Them days are over boys, the developers are not going to be paying these fees, you’re just not going to have any development. The village is reaping the benefits of using an outside engineering firm, I think it’s time you turn it over to the developers and let them reap those benefits as well. I think the village finally is opening their eyes, you haven’t seen the tip of the iceberg of what Ruekert and Mielke have been doing to this village.”
In a later interview village Administrator Jay Shambeau stated that originally, Ruekert Mielke was the only firm that bid on the project. Once Gilles received the proposal from them, he opted to request a proposal from McMahon as they are working on another project in the village.
Shambeau stated that in the future the village is likely to receive more than one proposal from engineering firms. However, Ruekert Mielke will continue to be utilized as the village’s day-to-day engineer.
During Kewaskum’s building boom in 2005, the Village paid $1,194,311 to Ruekert Mielke. In 2006 they paid $924,502 and $498,961 in 2007. Treasurer Janet Knops added that some of the fees paid to Ruekert Mielke are fees billed back to developers. However, the percentages of those billed back fees was unavailable.
Should the village start relying on another firm for their engineering needs? Send your letter to the editor to akuehl@kewaskumstatesman.com
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