Fitchburg, WI Board of Public Works 10-5-26

The Fitchburg Board of Public Works meeting on October 5, 2026, reviewed active street, sidewalk, and stormwater projects, then considered several infrastructure and service agreements. The board unanimously approved amendments to the Highfield Reserve subdivision-improvements agreement, allowing the developer to build park improvements in designated outlots and apply costs toward required park-improvement fees; staff said the work must meet city standards and go through public bidding. The board also approved a state-municipal agreement for the Traceway–Leopold shared-use path, programmed for 2028 design and 2030 construction. The estimated total is about $1.4 million, with Fitchburg responsible for roughly $647,000; lighting and roadway resurfacing are included, while a short connection within Madison is excluded from the funding application and may be billed to Madison separately. A second path agreement for Southdale, from McCoy Road to Anglehart Drive, was approved for a project programmed for 2027 design and 2029 construction; design will determine whether a boardwalk or another separated path treatment is needed, and the city must begin work by September 30, 2028, to retain the funding.

The board considered 2027 solid-waste collection rates under the city’s contract with Pelletary Waste Systems LLC. The presentation cited an estimated annual cost of approximately $1.833 million and a $4 increase per unit from the 2026 rate of $236; staff agreed to check discrepancies in unit counts and budget figures. The board also approved an agreement for sewage service involving the Village of Oregon, Fitchburg, and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections; the Department of Corrections will cover design, construction, usage, and permitting costs. Other business included routine project updates, utility payments for stormwater-pond sediment sampling and beaver removal, and conditional acceptance of Basswood Drive subdivision improvements. No contract award or vendor selection was identified beyond the existing waste-collection contract.