La Crosse Board of Public Works approves contracts, levies $8,280 sewer-lateral assessment

The La Crosse Board of Public Works on May 26 approved multiple construction bids, confirmed final contract payments and authorized a special assessment totaling $8,280 for sanitary sewer lateral replacement on the 1000 block of King Street.

Deputy Director Sward presented a list of bidders and recommended the board accept the firms and their proof of responsibility. "It's quite a list, but I recommend approval," Sward said while reading bids from several Wisconsin and Minnesota firms, including La Crosse Sign Co., Larson Construction Co., Badger Environmental and Earthworks Inc., Bernie Buckner Inc. and others. The board voted to accept the bidders' submissions unanimously.

The board also approved item 260562, a set of construction contract final payments and an attached agreement for easement acquisition related to Highway 16; Council President Dickinson made the motion and Director Train seconded.

On a separate agenda item, Make Peace Engineering LLC requested approval for a new storm sewer connection on 6th Street south of the St. Joseph of the Workman Cathedral parking lot. The Chair explained the connection requires board approval because 6th Street is less than five years old, even though staff had already approved the configuration. Council President Dickinson asked about disruption to the approximately one-year-old concrete street; the Chair said work would likely remove one concrete panel and be localized unless the connection undermined the pavement, and that curb-to-curb replacement is required only when sanitary sewer work reaches the street centerline.

For item 260576, staff recommended and the board awarded the sanitary-lateral repair quote for the 10th and King project to Bernie Buckner, Inc., as the lowest bidder. Finally, in item 260579 staff presented a special report authorizing a public improvement and levying a special assessment for the sanitary-lateral work. Mr. Overby said the sanitary portion totals $8,280 and the assessment is proposed to be split evenly between two benefited properties at 103 King Street and 1009/1011 King Street. The Chair clarified the lateral is a resident-owned private connection rather than a main or public structure, and Mr. Overby said letters had been sent months earlier and Utilities had been in contact with the properties since late last year.

All formal motions reported in the meeting were approved unanimously. The Chair said that, if authorized, the clerk's office will send the official notice of intent to assess to the common council. The board adjourned at the close of the agenda.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes (May 18, 2026): motion by Council President Dickinson; second Director Train; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Acceptance of bidders / proof of responsibility (agenda item 25): motion credited to Councilman McGoggin; second Director Sch.; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Item 260562 (construction contract final payments / easement agreement for Highway 16): motion by Council President Dickinson; second Director Train; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Item 260563 (storm sewer connection — 6th Street, St. Joseph of the Workman Cathedral): motion by Councilor McGoggin; second by Director Train; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Item 260576 (quotes for noncompliant sanitary laterals, 10th and King — award to Bernie Buckner, Inc.): motion by Council President Dickinson; second Director Train; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Item 260579 (authorize public improvement and levy special assessment for sanitary laterals, 1000 block of King Street): motion by Councilman McGoggin; second Council President Dickinson; outcome: approved unanimously.

Next steps: the clerk's office will send the official notice of intent to assess the two properties to the common council as part of the assessment process.