Council awards Sunset Lane sewer contract and approves accessible water bubblers; officials say historic bubblers will remain

The La Crosse City Council approved two public-works contracts: a $101,995 award to A1 Excavating LLC for the Sunset Lane sanitary sewer project and an $89,113 award to Fowler & Hammer Inc. for placement of accessible water bubblers.

When Councilmember Calo asked whether historic bubblers would be removed and where new bubblers would be located, Director Gallagher explained the publicly bid item covered concrete installation for the new and replacement bubblers and said the historic bubblers "are staying near the new ones being emplaced, replaced, or installed." He added locations must be roughly the same and moved only to achieve ADA accessibility, perhaps a few feet along the boulevard. (Director Gallagher)

The council approved both contract awards after brief discussion and a vote. The accessible-bubbler project was described as a portion of a larger $150,000 scope with $89,113 bid for concrete work. Staff said placement will prioritize ADA access while keeping historic bubblers in place when feasible.

Next steps: Public Works will coordinate exact bubbler locations with historic-preservation considerations and complete contract execution for the Sunset Lane sewer work.