By Dave Fidlin
An outside consultant has been enlisted to review Whitewater’s sanitary sewer drainage system in a flood-prone area.
The Common Council on June 3 voted to approve a task order that calls on Strand Associates to review the existing infrastructure along Woodland Drive.
The company recently completed a study of the area, and next steps will involve designing possible remedies, as well as preparing bid-related documents for construction firms.
After completing its analysis, Strand officials recommended restoring about 300 feet of storm sewer with the intent of alleviating future flooding concerns.
Assistant City Manager Chris McDonell said the goal is to have the project complete this year. Strand will continue to bill the city at an hourly rate for its services, and the anticipated cost for this portion of the project will hover around $17,600.
In other business last week, the council:
• Discussed plans for a strategic planning workshop that is tied to the city’s 2015 budget review. The workshop is to take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 1, at the Cravath Lakefront Building. A facilitator, Rick Bayer of the Cities and Villages Mutual Insurance Company, will take part in the discussion.
During the workshop, city staff and council members will likely hash over a series of long- and short-term goals and how each pertains to budget planning in 2015 and beyond.
• Appointed council members Stephanie Abbott and James Winship to a recently convened panel that will review candidates for the neighborhood services director position that was vacated early this year by Latisha Birkeland.
City Manager Cameron Clapper last week revealed the city received 34 applications for the position, and the interview panel will assist in narrowing down candidates.
