Public Works Committee - MINUTES - 3/22/1999
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING - CITY OF MUSKEGO Approved
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD MONDAY, March 22, 1999
The meeting was called to order at 7:04 P.M. by Chairman Don Pionek. Committee member Ald.
Nancy Salentine was present. Also present were Ald. Mark Slocomb, Public Works Supt. Wayne
Delikat, Tom Zagar (Lakes Project Coordinator) and those per the attached list. Ald. Cathy Chiaverotti
was excused.
The Recording Secretary noted that the meeting was posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law
on March 17, 1999.
Discussion of February 22, 1999 Minutes - Ald. Nancy Salentine questioned the past meeting
minutes regarding the exclusive use of salt on the roads. The Committee stated that the use of road
salt would be exclusive unless black ice or adverse affects caused by the salt occur on the surrounding
lakes. Wayne reported that this year 1,400 tons of salt were used.
STATUS OF PROJECTS - The following items were reported on:
Muskego Theater - The storm sewer design which this Committee requested be submitted has not
occurred. Former Building/Inspection Director Chris Zoppa wrote to the engineering firm for the theater
on March 3, 1999 requesting the design. The Committee will wait until next months meeting in the
event of the design being submitted, if it has not been, the Committee may withhold the granting of
further permits until it is provided.
Muskego/Norway Middle School - Please delete this item on subsequent agendas.
Woods Road Reconstruction - With the majority of the design work completed on this project the final
step in the process to secure the grant funds is to have the application for the grant completed and
mailed to the Department of Transportation by April 1, 1999. Ald. Salentine moved to direct the
Mayor to complete and sign the grant funding request and forward to the Department of
Transportation by April 1, 1999. Seconded by Ald. Pionek. Carried by all.
th
New Library Project - The groundbreaking occurred on the 15 of March. Wayne reports that the site
has been found to be 1 foot below grade. Fill will be required to raise the elevation. Additionally,
Wayne and his Department have removed the hay on the site.
Moorland Road-South Extension - The detailed computer generated drawings were found intact.
Notices for a Public Hearing is the next step in the process.
Municipal Salt Shed - Footings will be poured tomorrow. Wayne reports that the entire building will take
43 days to complete. R&M reviewed the plans prior to construction. Currently, the entire existing salt
shed is full with an additional 700 tons of salt stored covered, outside.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Discuss Urban/Rural Drainage - Wayne reports that a site visit has yet to occur for Mr. Pizur.
Additionally the land in question is considered “agricultural wetland”. Tom Zagar explained that this is
land that can be farmed but is avoided during wet years. The County has maps that detail those
parcels deemed “agricultural wetlands” and they will be reviewed. Additionally, Chris Zoppa, prior to his
departure indicated that he had obtained new contour maps of the City. Wayne will check to determine
the location of these maps. Wayne also reports that on Richdorf Drive the angled grates are on his to
do list.
Status of Public Works Committee procedures and policies - Due to the absence of Ald. Chiaverotti the
Committee did not review the procedures and policies.
Public Works Committee Minutes
March 22, 1999 - Page 2
Further discussion of testing lakes for salt - Tom Zagar will be working with the Stormwater
Management Committee regarding the procedures for testing for salt on the lakes. Tom provided
documents which charted the level of chloride in Little Muskego, Big Muskego and Wind Lake. The
testing occurred each April from 1985 to 1997. The Committee questioned the conditions that caused
the increase in chloride levels in 1994, especially in Little Muskego lake. At this juncture, too little is
known of the circumstances surrounding the change to make a solid determination. The Committee will
use these reports and subsequent reports to track the impact of the exclusive use of salt on the
roadways as well as the amount of runoff the City is receiving from neighboring communities. Tom will
provide to this Committee and the Storm Water Management Committee will determine where,
frequency of the testing and the costs. Equipment, if any available to check the water on site will be
researched.
Stormwater Ordinance - A letter from the City Attorney with his comments was received. The entire
packet has been sent to EarthTech for their final review and commentary. Tom Zagar will share
EarthTech’s comments with this Committee and the Storm Water Management Committee.
NEW BUSINESS
Review drainage concerns - Accurate Cad Cam - Attorney Mark Sostarich, representing Mr. and Mrs.
Hunt (owners of Accurate Cad Cam), was present to discuss the serious property damage that has and
continues to occur due to the drainage of water from Wiza Industries. A drainage conductor (13 inch
pipe - outside diameter) has been discharging water into a drainage ditch along Mercury Drive across
the Accurate Cad Cam property. Significant damage has occurred, so much that the City Assessor has
lowered the assessed property value by $130,000. The property was purchased in 1995 for $262,000
and is now assessed at $131,000.
The drainage conductor pipe in question was attached to the 1996 addition to the Wiza Industries
building. Drainage was initially supposed to go to the north and sound along a swail but the water
currently drains to the west through the Hunt property. The drawings submitted in 1997 shows the pipe
which Mr. Hunt objected to prior to and during the construction of. Mr. Hunt contacted City Hall and
received no assistance in ceasing the installation of the pipe. The pipe was approved by the Plan
Commission with minor aesthetic changes to be made by Mr. Wiza. Unfortunately, the Plan
Commission was not within their realm of responsibility when they approved the pipe. At the meeting,
Mr. Wiza claimed that the water to be discharged was to come only from the roof. The attorney for Mr.
Hunt claims that this was a misrepresentation by Mr. Wiza to obtain the approval of the pipe by the Plan
Commission, and since he received approval, he can use the pipe as he sees fit.
In June, 1998, Mr. Wiza requested that this Committee approve the pipes on the existing 1996 addition
and 2 additional pipes for 2 new buildings which were to discharge into the ditch on Mercury Drive. The
Committee at that time requested the original grading plan for the Industrial Park to determine if
significant changes in the plan had been made. To-date, Mr. Wiza never provided those plans. The
attorney for the Hunt’s provided the grading plans this evening which details that significant changes
were made to the original grading plan. The land that Wiza Industries currently rests on was at one
time a pond which had been filled in.
A recent Plat of Survey was shown to diagram the location of the discharge pipes in relation to the
grade levels of the buildings and how different the current grade is versus what was in the original plan.
The attorney for the Hunt’s is requesting that this Committee and the City request that this pipe be
removed since it was installed under false pretenses. The attorney showed a drawing that was
submitted to the City for the approval for the additional pipes that had already been installed. The
Committee had never seen the drawing shown and questioned why.
Public Works Committee Minutes
March 22, 1999 - Page 3
The pavement is cracking and the buildings abutting the Wiza property are showing signs of step
cracks. The damage and the loss of property value are real concerns to the surrounding property
owners who are leery of expanding their businesses due to the excessive amount of water that
discharges on a continual basis.
Chairman Pionek advised the group present that the Committee does not have the jurisdiction to
request that the pipe be removed and indicated that the Inspection Department, primarily the Plumbing
Inspector has to make that determination as the current Ordinance is written. Chairman Pionek and
Ald. Salentine will personally work with the Mayor and the Plumbing Inspector to determine if and when
the pipe should be removed.
Review drainage concerns - Lake Lore Homeowners Association - Mr. Randall Hojnacki, Treasurer,
Lake Lore Homeowner’s Association was present to applaud the efforts of this Committee with regard
to the proposed testing of the lakes in the area for Chloride. Mr. Hojnacki also commended the City on
the use of salt with no further untidiness on the streets from sand. Mr. Hojnacki is requesting that Lake
Lore, Lake Brittany and West Lake also be checked for chloride. Mr. Hojnacki was advised that the
th
Stormwater Management Committee would be meeting on the 29 of March to determine the exact
places, times and procedures for the testing of the lakes. It has not been determined if the lakes Mr.
Hojnacki would like tested are under DNR control If the lakes are private (with not public access point),
the funding to perform the testing may not be available. Tom Zagar will be working with Mr. Hojnacki to
find out pricing and to perform a site visit. Ald. Slocomb will also be invited to participate. There are
numerous drainage concerns in the area, especially with fertilizer run-off and attempts to request the
diversion of drainage into the lakes. These issues will be handled at a future meeting.
Review correspondence from Wisconsin Department of Transportation - Woods Road-Janesville Road
- See “Status of Projects” portion of minutes.
Review Fee Schedule - Chairman Pionek placed this item on the agenda in order to obtain and review
the current fee schedule from Wayne’s Department. Wayne will provide copies for next months
meeting and will determine if the fees may need to be increased in 2000. The last price increase was
1998.
COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW - None
HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT - Wayne reports that the fuel tanks were moved and 500-
600 yards of dirt will need to be removed due to contamination. 2 new trucks were delivered this week.
Minor glitches in the workmanship of the vehicles purchased has caused them to be repaired already.
The Dam on Little Muskego Lake was closed on 3/19/99. The Road Program for this year is going out
for bid on 3/25/99. The bid opening will occur on 4/8/99. The copy of the Road Program was shared
with the Committee, with the Committee requesting that a copy of the work to be done is posted in the
Aldermen’s Room along with copies of the document for all of the Aldermen. Wayne will provide copies
to all. The leaf collection program is moving forward. The particulars will be worked out with the City of
Ripon.
ADJOURNMENT - Being no further business to discuss, Ald. Salentine moved to adjourn the
meeting at 9:15 P.M. Ald. Pionek seconded, Carried by all.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Gulgowski
Recording Secretary