Waukesha board approves utility and playground contracts, including $1.42 million utility award

The Board of Public Works voted July 9 to award a $1,418,655.50 contract to Musson Brothers for the Luke Avenue, Bourne Place and Walton Avenue Utility Improvement Project and approved a separate $112,800 bid from Blue Mills to install resilient surfacing at Greenway Terrace playground.

Staff presented the Luke Avenue package as the night’s first bid recommendation and said Musson Brothers’ submission was the low, responsive bid. A board member moved to accept the award and the board approved it by voice vote.

On the Greenway Terrace playground item, staff told the board the bid covers only the resilient surface; alternate items for concrete work and other site elements did not come in competitively and will be addressed separately with Parks & Recreation. Board members pressed staff on schedule and cost details; staff said the playground build and community installation are expected in 2026 but that timeline has shifted because the bid was delayed.

A board member asked about the alternate items and per-square-foot cost differences between single-color surfacing and mixed surfacing; staff said they would follow up offline with cost comparisons. The board approved the Blue Mills contract after a motion and second.

Both votes were recorded by voice as unanimous among members present.