Committee approves Mather Street payments, awards $115,245 sand-and-salt bunker contract and okays traffic consultant agreement

The Green Bay Improvement and Services Committee on June 10 approved a package of Public Works actions tied to upcoming construction and operations: real-estate payments for the Mather Street reconstruction project, a $115,245 contract for a covered sand-and-salt bunker, licenses for three sidewalk contractors, and a not-to-exceed $71,000 professional services agreement with AIRS Associates to provide interim traffic-engineering services.

Staff said the DOT-led Mather Street reconstruction, scheduled for 2027, affects about 79 parcels and will require roughly 53 temporary limited easements (TLEs); the packet before the committee covered about 30 percent of those properties as part of a staged negotiation process. Staff explained that valuations are set by appraisals on a per-square-foot basis; the Green Bay Public Schools parcel on the list was noted at $2,400. The committee approved the real-estate payments on a voice vote after a motion by Alder Ritterbush and a second by Alder Baker.

The committee also approved awarding contract WSG1-26 to A and B Construction Ltd for $115,245 to build a canopy-style covered structure over a sand-and-salt bunker; staff described the structure as a clear-span industrial fabric canopy with galvanized trusses and said warranties in the range of roughly 10 to 15 years are typical. Members discussed which yard (west or east side) would be covered and operational needs including loader clearance and maintaining dry stock for winter response; the award passed on a voice vote.

Licenses for Sidewalk Builder, Knaps Flatwork and Construction, and Right W Rightway Concrete Construction LLC were approved by motion and voice vote.

On staffing, Public Works told the committee that the department's traffic engineer is retiring June 16 and the city has an active recruitment; because the specialized position is hard to fill, staff recommended contracting for interim support. The committee voted to approve a professional-services agreement with AIRS Associates, Inc., at a not-to-exceed amount of $71,000; the motion passed by voice vote with one member recorded as abstaining in the transcript (the abstaining member is not named in the record). Committee members asked why consultants were used rather than immediate hires; staff said prior recruitment efforts had left the department short-staffed for extended periods and that the contract is intended to bridge to a permanent hire.

The chair reminded listeners that the committee's actions will go to the City Council on June 16 for further consideration.