http://kiwanisclubof westernkenosha.org/

The Public Works Committee met earlier this evening.  The following agenda items were approved:

• A request for use of Celebration Place by the Kiwanis Club of Western Kenosha on July 27, 28, and 29, 2012, for the 4th Annual Taste of Wisconsin event.  Candy Eisenhauer was present representing the organization.  When asked why they wanted to move their venue, Eisenhauer stated that they felt too constrained at last year’s location.  “Plus, it’s safer, and there’s more parking.  No one uses it much.”  In case of rain, Eisenhauer stated that the parking would have to move from on the grass to on the street.  “People could take the trolley,” she said.  Chairman G. John Ruffolo encouraged her to work with the Public Works staff on a rain plan.  Eisenhauer stated that “they work closely with us.  They are a great bunch of people.”

• A request for use of HarborPark and Celebration Place by the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation on August 24 and 25th, 2012, for the 2nd Annual Grill Games event.  Lou Molitor, executive director of the Chamber, stated that “they were way too spread out last year.  We had 2,500 people attend last year.  This year, we are having free admission, which should increase attendance.  We’ll have forty teams.  On Friday night, there will be a dessert competition.  On Saturday, we’ll have the competition on the ribs, pork shoulder, and brisket.  There will be a People’s Choice Award and a Best of the Grill Games Award, plus an award for the team that is the most interactive with the public.  There will be music both Friday and Saturday night, the Sweet Tarts, and the Love Monkeys, plus a country western band on Saturday.  This is a barbeque contest and a music event.  We are starting to gather some additional sponsors, too.”  Ruffolo asked about the parking.  They will be using the museum parking lot, which has handicapped spots to accommodate wheel chairs.  They are expecting a bigger crowd this year.   Alderperson Ray Misner commented that it seemed that Molitor was addressing all of the complaints he heard about last year, which should make the event much more successful.
• The application of Gary Doepgen d/b/a/ Wade’s Filling Station, for a peddler stand to be located at 56th Street and 3rd Avenue parking lot.  Doepgen was present and was asking about renting electricity from the city.  Ruffolo said “Probably not.”  Ruffolo stated that the city is working on a permit ordinance change to address all of that.  Doepgen then asked if he could use a generator, and Ruffolo approved that.  Ruffolo advised him to check with the staff as the date gets closer.
• Award of contract for Project # 11-1125, Pennoyer Beach Outfall Stormwater Infiltration Basin (3601 – 7th Avenue) to Veit & Company, Inc. (New Berlin, Wisconsin), in the amount of $349,000.  Billingsley explained that this was part of the Great Lakes restoration initiative grant.  The work, which consists of two bio-swales, grass and native planting, and a sedimentation vault, should be done by early July.  Lemens also introduced the new engineer, Katie Weebles, who  graduated from Marquette University.  She is from Rockford, and was hired in August of last year.  She also worked on this project with Billingsley.
• Acceptance of Project # 11-1209, Salt Storage Facility (6415 – 35th Avenue), which has been satisfactorily completed by Camosy Construction (Kenosha, Wisconsin), in the amount of $676,009.41.  Lemens stated that the current salt barn is very full with salt.  “If there is any salt that remains in the old salt dome, it will be moved to the new salt storage facility.  We didn’t want to have to move it twice.  Our own crews will do the work of moving the salt.”  Ruffolo stated that the last snowfall on record was May 15th.  Ruffolo asked if the new facility had been inspected, and if the checklist of work items had been run through, and Lemens assured him that it was.
• The resolution – intent to assess for Project # 12-1012, Resurfacing (32nd Avenue – 55th Street to 52nd Street, 33rd Avenue – 55th Street to 52nd Street, 27th Avenue – 35th Street to 33rd Street, 60th Avenue – 82nd Street to 80th Street) for hazardous sidewalk and/or driveway approach only, and the resolution – intent to assess for Project # 12-1024, 60th Street Resurfacing (60th Street – 22nd Avenue to 8th Avenue) for hazardous sidewalk and/or driveway approach only, were both approved.  Alderperson Anthony Nudo wanted to know when the work would start, and the answer given was April.  Work will be scheduled around the school’s calendar.
• The proposed resolution to approve a certified survey map for the property at 7944 Sheridan Road (7944 Sheridan Retail Center), was approved.  Lewis Bird, from Panhandle Capital, LLC, was present representing the property.  Bird stated that the three parcels of land being split would be beneficial, even if the request for a liquor license exception was not granted.

The following agenda items were deferred:

• A request for use of HarborPark by Wisconsin Marathon, LLC, on May 5, 2012.  No one was present from the organization, and Chairman G. John Ruffolo had questions regarding handicapped parking.
• Award of contract for Project # 10-1415, Lake Front Water Feature (5502 Ring Road) to Camosy Construction (Kenosha, Wisconsin), in the amount of $275,000.  Mike Lemens, director/city engineer, told the committee that this project has been under design for a number of months.  He commended Shelley Billingsley, director of engineering, for her good work on the project.  It was sent out for bid, and Camosy was the lowest bidder.  There will be new splash pad features which will be operated by a push-button.  Because Ruffolo felt that the museum fountain gets more visibility and use and the city will start getting complaints about why the fountain was not operational, the committee felt it best to defer this item for two weeks while staff checks with administration on repairing the fountain instead.  Ruffolo requested that the mayor be informed as well.
• Approval of a lease between the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and GNC Hook, LLC (Art Bar) for the parcel located at 22nd Avenue and 53rd Street (Parcel # 09-222-36-411-001).  Since neither the Legal Department nor the property owner were present, the committee felt it best to defer this item until all parties can be present.  Ruffolo stated that he felt that 25 years was a long time for a lease at the cost of $1 for public property.
• The first amendment to the developers’ agreement and memorandum of full satisfaction between the city of Kenosha, Kenosha Water Facility, First Industrial Investments II, LLC, and Affiliated Foods Midwest (AFM) Cooperative, Inc. (Affiliated Foods), was deferred for two weeks, as well as the bicycle and pedestrian easement agreement by and between Affiliated Foods Midwest Cooperative, Inc., and the city of Kenosha for property at 8100 – 60th Street (Affiliated Foods).  Brian Wilke from the Community Development and Inspections Department, and Chad Parrish, representing AFM, were both present and explained the situation to the committee.  Part of the developers’ agreement was to construct an off-street paved bike path on the north side of 60th Street.  There is a 20-foot pedestrian and bike path easement already in place.  The request is that a cash escrow account be set up containing $60,000 for future construction of the bike path.  The developer wants this because they’d like to close their books on the project; the work has been done for quite some time now.  Since the city’s Legal Department wanted to strike a paragraph from the easement agreement, and they were not present at the meeting for questions, the item was deferred so that the needed parties can be present.  The other issue Ruffolo had was the age of the cost estimate.  It was given a year ago, and it was noted that the price of oil was cheaper then.   Lemens stated that the deferral would give them time to get a new estimate from Riley Construction.

Informational items included:

• A City Plan Commission Update was given by Alderman Jan Michalski, and a Project Status Update was included in the committee members’ packets.  (Click here if you’d like to read about last week’s City Plan Commission Plan meeting:  City Plan Commission Approves Dunkin Donuts Store.)

Ruffolo asked Lemens if the truck wash was operating, and Lemens replied that it was.  “Has the entire fleet been through there now?” Ruffolo wanted to know.  Lemens replied that it had.  “Some trucks actually looked shiny,” Lemens stated.  “One hundred and thirty vehicles, and ninety staff people got trained on the use of the truck wash.”  Alderperson Anthony Nudo asked that someone clarify with WLIP that we do indeed have a truck wash, and that all of the city’s trucks do fit through it.  Apparently, it was reported By WLIP to the contrary.