The Utilities Committee met 02/25/2025. They had two items on their agenda. One was a request to approve a $181,899.05 sole source native landscape management contract with NES. This was approved unanimously. The second was a review of the January 2025 water main break and leak report.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
ITEM 25-0143: Sole Source Award of 2025 Native Landscape Management Contract (K-25) to NES Ecological Services – A Division of Robert E. Lee & Associates, in an amount not to exceed $181,899.05 – Back in 2023 the city entered into an agreement with NES Ecological Services to provide native landscape management services. Part of that agreement required that the city negotiate sole source contracts with NES for those services through 2026.
Deputy Director of Public Works Pete Neuberger mentioned that NES had actually stepped in and started providing those services after the previous company the city had contracted with stopped servicing this area of Wisconsin. NES is a local company who as been doing “fantastic work” for the city.
The committee voted 4-0 to recommend the contract be approved.
ITEM 25-0144: Water Distribution and Meter Team Monthly Report – January 2025 – In January of 2025, the city experienced 9 water main breaks/leaks as compared to 7 in 2024.
Alderperson Vered Meltzer (District 2) expressed a little bit of discouragement at seeing the numbers higher in 2025 as compared to 2024, given that the city had been on a downward trajectory for breaks, and asked if there were any risks that might cause a change in trajectory.
Deputy Director Neuberger responded that the city continued to replace aging and undersized water mains as they perform street reconstructions. He said that weather influenced the number of leaks with very cold conditions impacting frost in the ground.
Alderperson Meltzer mentioned that most of the impacted pipes were from the 60s, a couple were from the 40s, and the newest was from 1978, none of which seemed concerning.
Director of Public Works Laura Jungwirth commented that there was a period of time in the 60s and 70s when problematic pipe material was used for water mains, which could be a factor in why pipes from that era were leaking. She also noted that as temperatures started to warm up, there would be some fluctuations in the ground that might cause some breaks. Ultimately, 9 breaks in 2025 was not a big difference to the 7 breaks in 2024, and the city didn’t see anything excessive in those numbers.
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1269088&GUID=B48256FB-62F1-41B8-B61A-DC21BD94B9CD
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