Watertown Public Works Commission | October 13, 2026

The Watertown Public Works Commission meeting on October 13, 2026, included several spending and contracting actions. The commission recommended updates to Ordinance 446 to align second-cart solid-waste and recycling charges with the new rates planned for 2027, and approved a three-year agreement with a village; no dollar amount for that agreement was stated. It also authorized city staff to perform interim pond maintenance on private property, subject to written authorization from the 26 homeowners and tracking of city labor and equipment costs. The preliminary estimate was $14,000–$15,000 for removing roughly six mature trees and a fallen tree. For wastewater plant electrical work, the commission approved purchasing temporary power cables and using the city’s generator, with the quoted price rendered in the transcript as $129,596.72; United Electric and its high-voltage subcontractor were identified in the discussion.

The commission approved Applied Technologies to evaluate sludge-dewatering alternatives, including new centrifuges and a screw-press option, and a facilities-plan amendment evaluation for $25,000; no equipment selection or purchase was made. The screw-press option could potentially allow the city to discontinue anaerobic digestion, subject to further analysis and regulatory review. The commission also moved the public hearing for the biosolids dryer project to the second November meeting as part of the state plan-amendment process. Finally, it approved a longer-term biosolids materials-management agreement with Synagro, contingent on city attorney approval because of a disputed indemnification provision. The agreement covers recurring land application services—about 3,000 cubic yards per year—and no contract price was stated.