Municipal Services Committee approves two inspection contracts; sole-source hire contingent on budget carryover
March 23, 2026 | Appleton City, Winnebago County, Wisconsin
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The Municipal Services Committee on March 23 approved two inspection contracts, including a bridge inspection services award to Collins Engineers Inc. and a sole-source construction inspection contract to Ari Smith.
The committee approved agenda item 26-0373 to award Collins Engineers Inc. a contract for 2026 bridge inspection and related services in an amount not to exceed $50,000. "This is to meet the DOT state bridge program requirements," Deputy Director Neuberger said, noting Collins Engineers performed the city's 2024 biennial bridge inspections as well.
The committee then considered agenda item 26-0374, a sole-source consultant contract for 2026 construction inspection services with Ari Smith, for an amount not to exceed $80,000. Deputy Director Neuberger explained why the sole-source contract was requested: "We've had a significant influx of new plat subdivisions coming in and we're expecting a lot of that to hit us this spring," Neuberger said, adding the department is shortstaffed in the engineering technician group and the contract is intended to cover a near-term workload spike. "We hope not to have to make full use of this contract, but we wanna make sure that we have it in place so that when this infrastructure goes into the ground, we know that it's gonna get done right through proper inspections." The contract award was made contingent on approvals of the 2025 DPW budget carryover, as stated in the agenda item.
Both items were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; the transcript records the affirmative responses but does not provide a roll-call tally for those two votes. Earlier in the meeting the committee also approved minutes from the March 9, 2026 meeting. Alder Stansell Martin was recorded as excused and Alder Schultz joined the meeting at 4:32 p.m.
The committee had no public hearings or information items and adjourned after the action items. The Ari Smith contract requires the carryover in the 2025 DPW budget to be finalized before work under that sole-source agreement can proceed.
The committee approved agenda item 26-0373 to award Collins Engineers Inc. a contract for 2026 bridge inspection and related services in an amount not to exceed $50,000. "This is to meet the DOT state bridge program requirements," Deputy Director Neuberger said, noting Collins Engineers performed the city's 2024 biennial bridge inspections as well.
The committee then considered agenda item 26-0374, a sole-source consultant contract for 2026 construction inspection services with Ari Smith, for an amount not to exceed $80,000. Deputy Director Neuberger explained why the sole-source contract was requested: "We've had a significant influx of new plat subdivisions coming in and we're expecting a lot of that to hit us this spring," Neuberger said, adding the department is shortstaffed in the engineering technician group and the contract is intended to cover a near-term workload spike. "We hope not to have to make full use of this contract, but we wanna make sure that we have it in place so that when this infrastructure goes into the ground, we know that it's gonna get done right through proper inspections." The contract award was made contingent on approvals of the 2025 DPW budget carryover, as stated in the agenda item.
Both items were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; the transcript records the affirmative responses but does not provide a roll-call tally for those two votes. Earlier in the meeting the committee also approved minutes from the March 9, 2026 meeting. Alder Stansell Martin was recorded as excused and Alder Schultz joined the meeting at 4:32 p.m.
The committee had no public hearings or information items and adjourned after the action items. The Ari Smith contract requires the carryover in the 2025 DPW budget to be finalized before work under that sole-source agreement can proceed.
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