[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6124598,"mediaKeyId","2681481-028aa92e1ecd015d89a62ae9f6bf26a2","parentId",2681481,"title","Council awards contract to relocate utilities ahead of Lapham Street bridge replacement","audioSeconds",235,"startMs",4840000,"endMs",5075000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2681481-028aa92e1ecd015d89a62ae9f6bf26a2&start=4840&end=5075","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2681481-028aa92e1ecd015d89a62ae9f6bf26a2/thumbnail_4840000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6124598/Oconomowoc/Waukesha-County/Wisconsin/Council-awards-contract-to-relocate-utilities-ahead-of-Lapham-Street-bridge-replacement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124598-b692535ef711c7a2af35e928b0060297/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984233&Signature=bHDFRy0ZEVpYP7y7QBwe-ttp1QNl7KyQgzEcVo3IwdUJw5DKHl2Mfu2AibYJ6qveim9-uue9fD~rgM4AbZMhQ223FeKKLHVKrurGTVHOyJPvC9SWCwsWtd8TuCu35WGxjcqV5P2qTNjhSMaFwfFALB47aLOjyIWu5dx7BuQt7OnO-Lvi5ISjvoWAn8ViJ54HRWV6mLgOAGVAC9A0We196dLxT6QOI1-7ErJJ1IvPCtPZo6hI94sWcRmdWMR0ISOQoSauRPHBH~gt4gxhlhhCwLMrF8PQp2OmYvPlXdZwNwcm8VU5Q5iujdmEVpD1pwRnCaVFh9hEXTyhgcioQi3mkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-05T12:48:53Z","article","The Common Council voted to award a construction contract to relocate utilities in advance of the planned Lapham Street bridge replacement.

Why it matters: The bridge replacement is federally funded and scheduled to start in fall 2025; utilities that cross or run adjacent to the bridge must be relocated before the bridge contractor begins work.

Staff summary and contract award

Staff member Jason Herzog described the utility relocation package and said the city solicited bids for directional boring and consolidated relocation work to move sanitary force mains, electric lines and other utilities out of the future bridge footprint. The low bidder, Advanced Construction, submitted a bid of about $382,482; staff recommended awarding the contract after reference checks.

Herzog told council the work had a split cost allocation among municipal utilities and the electric utility, and that a budget amendment was included in the agenda to reflect the shared funding and to cover city staff costs needed for project management.

Council action

Council approved the contract award and associated budget amendment; the motion passed on a roll call vote with all members present voting in favor.

Quote from staff

“We reached out to Advanced Construction, talked with at least 6 of their references to confirm that they're capable of completing this work . . . and are recommending Advanced Construction to be a part of that,” Herzog said.

Next steps

Herzog said the relocations will take place ahead of the bridge construction window; staff will coordinate with the state and federal project partners and report progress to the council. The bridge work itself was described as starting in fall 2025 and continuing into 2026.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/18/2025 Common Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved a contract to relocate utilities in advance of a federally funded bridge replacement; the low bid was roughly $382,482 and staff said the work must be completed before the bridge work begins in fall 2025.","taxTitle","Oconomowoc, Waukesha County, Wisconsin","taxId",53950,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6124603,"Council approves updated boat‑launch fees and license‑plate kiosk system",1177,3669000,4846000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2681481-028aa92e1ecd015d89a62ae9f6bf26a2&start=3669&end=4846","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2681481-028aa92e1ecd015d89a62ae9f6bf26a2/thumbnail_3669000.jpg","/articles/6124603/Oconomowoc/Waukesha-County/Wisconsin/Council-approves-updated-boatlaunch-fees-and-licenseplate-kiosk-system","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124603-31b874fd54a59fb7b3fe6ef121726ab9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984233&Signature=Git9f0zaxxmj6bmcGLKWdRXvuQ4FfDWYZ~D6Lpn6Ba8WgMJwUONCSnOANByVMjwucbMINV61RXmUG7t3Zq5r9EUoPLx4ybBjqWteFAgxUu-bn2Yc4O3arVvqkv99d-Z4FHji4ha7BKLSlwKDTw~W2S93ISz3eSpIzi92KuANTK5aTMu2Qx8k73XVJUlT155e1sGVB8E8xBpUU5WRCYZ9UNICUrcdIVz6Z8JhNVUA1cwxY~-5s5KydRevLnjrYVOEetkXE3TxPxxO8Y8G2FZsDp--xtJONFuPegF50Mdjt7VIHMtzauDi05pto5FPxZ9t~EShzRhY8ccHqhIHpNq0sQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oconomowoc Common Council voted to adopt new fees and a license‑plate kiosk system for the city’s boat launch as part of the boat‑launch redevelopment.

Why it matters: The launch project includes a new entry/pay kiosk with cameras to capture license plates, which staff say will make enforcement and resident discounts simpler and allow the city to collect fees outside staffed lifeguard hours.

How the system works

Parks staff (presented by Mr. Boettcher) described a camera system and kiosk that photographs license plates at entry. Users can pay at the kiosk, online, or buy a season pass; the system stores a timestamped record of each entry so staff can follow up on unpaid launches. Staff said the kiosk/camera hardware and installation are part of the larger boat‑launch redevelopment budget.

Fees presented

Under state rules the city cannot charge resident/nonresident differentials for nonmotorized vessels (canoes, kayaks, paddleboards), so staff proposed a single daily fee there. For motorized trailer launches the staff proposal included the resident and nonresident rates set under Wisconsin DNR guidance and city practice:
- Nonmotorized (canoe/kayak/paddleboard): $8 per day or $80 per season.
- Motorized (trailered) resident: $13.75 per day or $137.50 per season.
- Motorized (trailered) nonresident: $19.25 per day or $192.50 per season.

Staff also explained the payment and residency verification process: residents can pre‑register license plates in the system and staff will verify residency (the registration may take 24–72 hours for manual verification). If a user fails to pay, the system will generate a violation record that staff can forward to police for enforcement.

Costs and revenue expectations

Boettcher said the kiosk/camera equipment and installation totaled about $47,750 (equipment/installation line in the project budget). Annual operating costs for the software and support were described as roughly $9,000; staff estimated an incremental revenue improvement of $12,000–$15,000 per year from improved compliance and nonresident fees, producing a multi‑year payback if the system performs as expected.

Council action and next steps

The council approved the updated fee schedule and the kiosk approach by voice vote during the meeting. Staff said they will proceed with installation as part of the larger boat‑launch project and will return data on usage and collections once the system is operating.

Quote from staff

“We have 24 hours to make your payment into the system,” the presenter said, describing the kiosk workflow and the enforcement follow‑up for unpaid launches.

Ending

City staff said they will publicize the new system and the registration process to residents before launch season and report back to council after the first season of operation with usage and revenue figures.","The council approved a new fee schedule for the redeveloped boat launch and authorized a camera/kiosk entry system intended to capture nonresident usage and season passes; staff said technology and processing fees will be required and the system is built into the launch project budget.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6124608,"Oconomowoc council deadlocks on $5M Village Green plan after heated public debate",6709,191000,6900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2681481-028aa92e1ecd015d89a62ae9f6bf26a2&start=191&end=6900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2681481-028aa92e1ecd015d89a62ae9f6bf26a2/thumbnail_191000.jpg","/articles/6124608/Oconomowoc/Waukesha-County/Wisconsin/Oconomowoc-council-deadlocks-on-5M-Village-Green-plan-after-heated-public-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124608-fd2887604dd2341b3f54a9a488206f2e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984233&Signature=V3ALwPKqCrYrVd5i0S7MpYfwpNPiu0oRMx88DVy3-d1E-MQ4NCLW1JeOX8Culy6pTxqJzatTo12DgywqdwUaZijhE9XCS48U3sqUIgaYS3VF3bXIV49FLny2k2VsgTtZ6XkGdjGBiyApWxPl8xV3VuCy1w-rGzdmr6YKcBqm3R6GEAe3L3F7vmAgOpasAwqP-gfeygCYk5vc3R3ydI18xLMCNgpwnQPa-7l4I4PPEPcx7NtZvIimKYlB4CiDX9YZyWwrT2f-OJ8qJ7yHaVZJxKw2zXJ9TLEvTkCWX-xgXqDEFV-OuraThNZTClAQ2S3tdKD~hmMmRcZmsMS02DjmFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Magnus opened the March 18 City of Oconomowoc Common Council meeting to public comment and heard multiple residents and business owners divided over a proposed Village Green reconstruction that includes a permanent pavilion and year‑round public restrooms.

The council approved an additional design payment for the project but failed to award the construction contract and budget amendment after multiple motions and roll calls, leaving the project in limbo.

Why it matters: The Village Green sits at a prominent downtown lakefront location and is used regularly for community events. Supporters say the proposal will fix a longstanding lack of public restrooms and support downtown events; opponents say the pavilion is too large, may violate the downtown historic overlay guidelines, and could expose the city to legal risk with a neighboring property owner.

Staff presentation and design costs

Staff member Jason Herzog described the long design process and the costs that have accumulated. “The design right now, as it sits, it was $163,710 design. And the request right now is to add $68,500 to complete the design work that's finished, so that we could award and work with a contractor to build this,” Herzog told the council, citing a combined design total of about $232,210.

Herzog said the low construction bid came back at roughly $3.6 million and that when other project elements and contingencies are added the overall project estimate being discussed in public rose to about $5 million. He described the scope as more than a pavilion and bathrooms, noting boardwalk work, seating walls, lighting and stormwater adjustments included in the package.

Public comment: split views

Several downtown residents and business owners spoke. Gary Kollenberg, a resident at 345 River Bluff Circle, urged the council to pause the vote and consider expanding the Village Green instead of building a pavilion, saying the city has “roughly $1,000,000 in TIF money to spend with a use it or lose it soft deadline of 2025 and a hard deadline of 2026.”

Linda Gilson, who identified design documents by name, criticized the pavilion’s design as inconsistent with local rules: “The proposed design of the Village Green Pavilion and bathroom do not comply with . . . the Downtown Revitalization Plan, and Downtown Historic Overlay Zoning District Ordinance,” she said.

By contrast, Sarah Ninman, downtown business owner and director of community events for the Chamber of Commerce of Oconomowoc, urged approval. “We all know you all voted that we need bathrooms. If we want bathrooms, we're in dire need of restrooms,” Ninman said, asking that a “yes” vote not be followed by no plan to provide an alternative solution.

Council discussion and funding

Council members debated design revisions, the effect on neighboring property owners, legal risk and how to finance the gap between identified funding and the low construction bid.

Alderman Rosack and other aldermen outlined a funding package that combined TIF dollars, park impact fees, tourism funds and contingency/reserve dollars. Rosack said the plan included $1,750,000 in TIF money (a $1,000,000 allocation from one district and $750,000 from another, as described in council remarks), $663,000 in park impact fees, $400,000 from the tourism fund and other sources; that financing left an estimated funding gap the council discussed as approximately $846,543. Rosack emphasized the amount financed would be small per household if debt were used, saying it would be roughly “$11.37 per year for 10 years” according to the figures his remarks used.

Concerns raised included project scale, architectural fit and litigation risk. Alderman Rosack and others said negotiations with the adjacent property owner, referred to in the record as Rockwell Partners, had occurred and that the developer’s attorney had warned that litigation was possible if the city proceeded without additional accommodation. Several aldermen said they believed the city had legal defenses but acknowledged litigation could delay or stop the project.

Votes and motions

The council took multiple formal actions on the project during the meeting:
- Resolution 25‑R‑3264 (additional design services): The council approved payment to complete design work (the $68,500 addition to the earlier $163,710) by roll call; all eight sitting members voted yes.

- Motion to table consideration of the reconstruction contract and budget amendment: A motion to table the award failed on a roll call vote (3 yes, 5 no). The roll call on the motion to table recorded Ayes: Shellpepper, Rosick, Ellis; Nays: Mulder, Maroney, Douglas, Altman Cloth, Spiegelberg.

- Resolution regarding awarding the Village Green reconstruction contract and a budget amendment (identified in the meeting materials as the contract award and budget amendment that required a supermajority): The motion to approve the construction award and associated budget amendment failed by roll call (3 yes, 5 no). The roll call recorded Ayes: Alderman Mulder, Alderman Maroney, Alderman Spiegelberg; Nays: Alderman Shellpepper, Alderman Douglas, Alderman Rosic, Alderman Altman Cloth, Alderman Ellis. Because the item required six yes votes (a supermajority of the eight members present), the motion did not carry.

What remains unresolved

With the award vote failing, the council did not commit to construction. Council members who opposed the award said they support adding public bathrooms at the Village Green but favored a smaller footprint, different siting, or further fundraising rather than the current packaged pavilion. Supporters argued redesign would push costs higher and that delaying could forfeit TIF funds with looming deadlines.

Next steps mentioned in the meeting included: (a) the possibility of redesigning to reduce the pavilion or move restroom placement, (b) exploring private fundraising and naming rights to reduce the funding gap, and (c) continued negotiation with the adjacent property owner. Several council members explicitly said they want a solution that produces public restrooms and protects downtown businesses, but they disagreed on scale and timing.

Ending

For now, the Village Green project remains active in city files (the council approved additional design costs) but not approved for construction. Council members and staff said they will continue discussions about layout, funding and legal exposure before bringing a revised proposal back to the council.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 25‑R‑3264 (approve additional design services for Village Green): Approved, roll call 8‑0.
- Resolution to award Village Green reconstruction contract and associated budget amendment (required supermajority): Failed, roll call 3‑5 (motion did not pass).","After more than two hours of public comment and council discussion, the Oconomowoc Common Council failed to approve the construction contract and associated budget amendment for the Village Green reconstruction and pavilion project; an earlier vote to pay for additional design work did pass.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council awards contract to relocate utilities ahead of Lapham Street bridge replacement

Council approves updated boat‑launch fees and license‑plate kiosk system

Oconomowoc council deadlocks on $5M Village Green plan after heated public debate