University to handle mapping services
By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
The City of Elkhorn Common Council voted unanimously Jan. 18 in favor of working with the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater this year in mapping the city’s storm water facilities.
City Administrator Sam Tapson said at the Jan. 11 City of Elkhorn Finance and Judicial Committee meeting the city has worked with UW-Whitewater in the past on mapping the city’s sewer, water and electric utilities, a partnership that has previously worked very well.
Tapson said at that time, the mapping would cost the city $7,300, which is budgeted, and there is an opportunity that some of it could be grant eligible.
According to the project proposal, initial project costs would cover the 12-week summer mapping period, from May until August. These costs would include hiring one student employee for the summer, supervision and use of equipment and software. Additionally, the proposal said costs would include travel expenses for the student to and from Whitewater, up to a maximum of $10 per day.
Designated as a MS4 permit community by the Wisconsin DNR, a memo from Tapson said the mapping is a requirement of the permit and is fundamentally a prerequisite for all other activities that follow.
Tapson said Monday night a formal contract would come before the council at a later time. Tapson also said with the scope of work being different from previous engagements with the university, the cost is substantially lower.
