Waukesha Spending More Money On Water Consulting

Waukesha blogger/citizen journalist/ Jim Bouman had sent the following information as a comment on this posting, but I am turning it into a separate posting because it deserves wider distribution.

The context is the now-stalled Lake Michigan water supply application that Waukesha has delivered to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Says Bouman:

Water Utility gang has been busy, even if they haven't got the application in final form.

The last minutes approved by the Waukesha Water Utility Commission included this:

"3. APPROVE/RATIFY FUTURE WATER SUPPLY CONTRACTS

[Water utility manager Dan] Duchniak recommended approval of the Legal Services Agreement with Reinhart Law Firm for an hourly, not to exceed amount of $65,000; Ratification of an existing contract with CH2M Hill for a total amount of $151,400.

Discussion: Reinhart Law Firm – budgeted item – working with City Attorney’s office. CH2M Hill

– Three components 1. Ratification of a change order for $29,800 for additional information
requests from the Mayor, DNR, Legal Counsel. 2. Field investigation for the Habitat Assessment
for all of the future water supply alternatives, surface water and groundwater in the amount of
$51,600 – Identifying environmentally sensitive areas. 3. Ongoing support for the Utility staff to
obtain approvals necessary to implement a new future water supply to meet the compliance deadline of June 30, 2018, in the amount of $70,000. Budgeted item. Negotiated with CH2M Hill. Dollars spent/dollars available. Reasonable Water Supply is defined under the Wisconsin State Statutes.

Review of WWU’s policies in place for contractor type services. Universally covers all options.
--MOTION BY ZINDA, SECOND BY ROEKER, TO APPROVE THE LEGAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH REINHART LAW FIRM IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,000. MOTION
PASSED 4-0. SCRIMA ABSTAINED.

--MOTION BY WARREN, SECOND BY TORTOMASI, TO APPROVE RATIFICATION OF THE CHANGE ORDER FOR THE CONTRACT WITH CH2M HILL FOR A NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $29,800. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

--MOTION BY ROEKER, SECOND BY ZINDA, TO APPROVE THE GREAT LAKES
APPLICATION HABITAT ASSESSMENT AGREEMENT WITH CH2M HILL FOR A
LUMP SUM AMOUNT OF $51,600. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
--MOTION BY ZINDA, SECOND BY ROEKER, TO APPROVE THE GREAT LAKES
APPLICATION SUPPORT WITH CH2M HILL FOR A TIME AND MATERIAL AMOUNT
OF $70,000. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY."

Follow-up: Staff to update the Commission with a detailed monthly report, along with the
invoices, and to forecast anticipated future action.

The commission has had several meeting since these May 20, 2010, but have only approved these since way last spring.

Too busy throwing money at consultants to tend to daily business.

September 17, 2010 4:20 PM