Council approves We Energies invoices totaling $332,311.56 for Ridgeview Estates infrastructure

The Fort Atkinson City Council on May 20 approved payment of two We Energies invoices for gas and electric facility installation at the Ridgeview Estates subdivision, totaling $332,311.56.

Manager Hausman told the council the city and Intrepid Investments entered a 2024 development agreement for development of 35 acres along Baker Road and the agreement assigned the city responsibility for certain public improvements, including gas and electric facility installation. He said the original We Energies estimate for gas had been about $75,000; the actual gas invoice is $71,708.35 and the electric invoice is $260,603.21. "The gas will likely mostly be reimbursed through this project," Hausman said, and staff recommended using funds from TID 9 to make the initial infrastructure payment with customer connection refunds returned to TID 9.

Hausman noted the estimate included an approximate connection charge of about $4,091 per connection and that connection refunds cannot exceed the total invoice. He told the council construction by We Energies was expected to begin "probably within the next couple weeks" once payment is received. When asked about additional rebates tied to the multifamily portion of the project, Hausman said he had inquired but did not have a specific dollar amount available.

Council members moved and seconded motions to approve each invoice; both motions passed by voice vote. The approvals implement the funding steps described in the city's development agreement with the developer and rely on TID 9 for upfront payment and later reimbursement from customer-connection credits.