Racine Water Works Commission Awards Contracts for Construction of Two Water Mains Serving Foxconn P

Enables water improvement to proceed on-time and under budget

Last night, the Racine Water Works Commission voted to award contracts for the construction of two new water mains related to the Foxconn project along International Drive and Braun Road in the Village of Mount Pleasant. Previously, the Commission, the Mount Pleasant Village Board and the City of Racine Common Council approved an amendment to the Retail Water Agreement with the Village of Mount Pleasant to ensure that the capital costs associated with construction of the water mains will be provided by the Village of Mount Pleasant through TID #5, which includes the Foxconn project area.

“The Racine Water Utility has been hard at work to quickly and efficiently design and plan for the installation of new water mains to serve the Foxconn project site,” said Keith Haas, General Manager of the City of Racine Water Utility. “Approval of these contracts enables the water main projects along International Drive and Braun Road to move forward on time and under budget.”

The Commission recommended awarding a contract for the construction of the International Drive water main to A.W. Oakes and Son, of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, which was the low bidder. The initial estimate for the project was $1.9 million, but the low bid came in at less than $1.4 million. The water main extension will carry water from International Drive, south of Highway 20, to Highway 11.

“We’re very excited to play a part in this historic investment happening right in our backyard,” said Daniel Oakes, President of A.W. Oakes & Sons, Inc. “The revitalization of our local utilities will help fuel the future growth of our community, which means more work for our employees. That is something we can all be grateful for.”

In addition, the Commission recommended awarding a contract for the Braun Road water main, which extends service from Wisconn Valley Way to Green Bay Road. The initial project estimate for the work was $9.3 million. Eight bids were submitted ranging from $7.3 million to $12.3 million and the Commission recommended awarding to the low bidder, Fischer Excavating from Freeport, Illinois.

“Our company is very excited to be working on the Braun Road Transmission Main Extension. We have met with the local unions and will be utilizing local labor as much as possible,” said Fischer Excavating Co-Owner Wayne Fischer. “This is an exciting time for everyone with the growth that is happening in this area, and we are thankful to be a part of it.”

Though an Illinois-based company, Fischer Excavating is committed to Wisconsin First and has developed an inclusion plan focused on local hiring. 100% of the subcontractors and suppliers for the project are companies based in Wisconsin, including nine minority-owned businesses representing 13% of the total contract value. In addition, the company is working with Laborers Local 113 to hire some of the workers needed on the project, drawing from local workforce training programs, like Racine Works, which is preparing City of Racine residents for public and private sector construction jobs associated with the influx of development throughout the Racine community.