[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Pleasant Prairie 5-2-1988 as Ch. 27 of the 1988 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to ensure that contractors and subcontractors who perform work on public improvement projects within the Village are responsible, competent to perform such work skillfully, capable of completing such work in a timely manner and sensitive to the necessity of performing such work in a manner that protects the health, safety and welfare of the public and minimizes any disturbance, inconvenience or annoyance to the public.
This chapter shall be known, referred to and cited as the "Contractor Qualification Ordinance of the Village of Pleasant Prairie" or as "Chapter 150 of the Code of the Village of Pleasant Prairie."
The provisions of this chapter shall be interpreted to be minimum requirements and shall be liberally construed in favor of the Village. Headings are provided in this chapter for convenience and ease of reference; they shall not be interpreted to limit the applicability, purpose, effect or meaning of any of the provisions of this chapter. Any word or phrase defined in § 150-5 of this chapter shall have the meaning stated therein. Undefined words or phrases shall have their common, ordinary meaning unless some other meaning is clearly suggested by the context in which a particular word or phrase appears. As used in this chapter, "shall" is mandatory, and "may" is permissive.
The following words or phrases, as used in this chapter, shall have the meanings set out below:
The Village Administrator and/or such other Village staff members or officials as may be designated as the administrators of this chapter by resolutions adopted from time to time by the Village Board; the Village Board, in its discretion, may perform, in the first instance, any function delegated to the Administrator by this chapter.
Any project within the Village, or undertaken by or on behalf of the Village, involving the construction, reconstruction, improvement, installation, remodeling or repair of, or any grading, excavation, drilling, filling, landscaping or other work in connection with, any public improvement, including without limitation all public buildings, public street improvements (pavement, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, culverts, street trees, streetlights and street signs), public bridges, public sanitary sewerage system improvements and facilities, public water supply and distribution system improvements and facilities, public storm sewer and drainage system improvements and facilities, and public parks and recreational facilities, or any improvements or facilities that are intended to become public through dedication to the Village in connection with an approved land division or otherwise.
Any individual, corporation, partnership, association, trust, body politic or corporate, or any other legal entity.
Any person whose relationship to the principal contractor is substantially the same, with respect to a part of the work on a public improvement project, as the latter's relationship is to the proprietor; a subcontractor takes a distinct part of the work on a project in such a way that the subcontractor does not contemplate doing merely personal service.
The Village of Pleasant Prairie.
[Amended 2-6-2012 by Ord. No. 12-11; 12-8-2025 by Ord. No. 25-53]
No person shall be permitted to submit a bid for work on any public improvement project unless such person is properly qualified pursuant to this chapter. Additionally, subject to § 150-7 below, it shall be unlawful to, and no person shall, act as a contractor or subcontractor on any public improvement project within the Village unless such person is duly qualified pursuant to this chapter.
Any contractor or subcontractor who has submitted a bid to the Village for work on a public improvement project or who has entered into a construction contract for work on a public improvement project prior to the effective date of this chapter shall be exempt from this chapter only to the extent of the work on such project. No lapse, suspension or cancellation of the qualification of a contractor or subcontractor under this chapter shall affect the ability of such contractor or subcontractor to carry out a contract with respect to a public improvement project, without penalty, provided that such contract was entered into in good faith at a time when such contractor or subcontractor was duly qualified.
[Amended 12-15-1997; 8-16-2021 by Ord. No. 21-18; 12-8-2025 by Ord. No. 25-53]
Any person who wishes to submit a bid for work on any public improvement project, or to act as a contractor or subcontractor on any public improvement project, may request to be qualified to do so by filing with the Administrator an application for qualification. Each such application shall specify the categories of public improvement projects for which qualification is sought and shall be accompanied by a sworn statement of qualifications. The applicant shall pay to the Village Treasurer, at the time of application, a fee as established in the Village Fee Schedule to help defray the costs of reviewing and evaluating the application. All applications for qualification and all sworn statements of qualification shall be submitted on standard forms approved by the Village Board and available from the Administrator.
[Amended 12-8-2025 by Ord. No. 25-53]
A.
The statement of qualifications shall contain the following minimum information:
(1)
Applicant's name;
(2)
Applicant's address;
(3)
Applicant's telephone number, email address and website;
(4)
Number of years the applicant has been in business under the present name (and the applicant's prior business name if the name has been changed within five years);
(5)
Type of entity the applicant is (if the applicant is a corporation, state when and in what state incorporated);
(6)
Categories of work for which qualification is sought and the number of years of applicant's experience as a principal contractor and as a subcontractor, in each such category;
(7)
Names, addresses and telephone numbers of all officers, general partners or other principals;
(8)
List of all projects started during the past five years, including, with respect to each project, the following year, category of work, capacity in which the work was undertaken, contract amount, location of work, and name, address and telephone number of the person for whom the work was performed;
(9)
Experience of all principal and supervisory individuals, including the following: name, present position, years of experience by categories of work, and capacity in which such work was performed;
(10)
Major pieces of equipment owned and available when needed, including, with respect to each, the name, description, condition and years of service;
(11)
Whether the applicant has failed, during the past five years, to complete satisfactorily and on time any work awarded to it or contracted for by it, and, if so, the full details of each such incident;
(12)
Whether any officer, general partner or other principal or supervisory individual associated with the applicant was an officer, general partner, principal or supervisor of any other contractor or subcontractor, during the past five years, when such contractor or subcontractor failed to complete, satisfactorily and on time, a construction contract, and, if so, details of each such incident;
(13)
Whether the applicant or any of its officers, directors, general partners or other principal or supervisory individuals have a financial interest in any other contractor or subcontractor qualified to work on public improvement projects in the Village, and, if so, the full details of any such interest;
(14)
Whether the applicant has asked to be relieved of a bid submitted by it to a public awarding authority during the past five years, and, if so, the full details of each such incident;
(15)
Whether the applicant has been relieved of a bid submitted by it to a public awarding authority during the past five years, and, if so, the full details of each such incident;
(16)
Whether the applicant has ever been charged with or convicted of a violation of any wage schedule, and, if so, the full details of each such incident;
(17)
Whether the applicant or any of its officers, general partners or principal or supervisory individuals has been charged with or convicted of a felony during the past five years, and, if so, the full details of each such incident;
(18)
Names, addresses and telephone numbers of bonding companies used by the applicant during the past five years and the amount and issuer of the largest bond provided during such period;
(19)
Whether any bonding company has, during the past five years, taken over a contract or made any payments because applicant failed to carry out a contract or performed it unsatisfactorily, and, if so, full details of each incident;
(20)
List borrowings during the past five years, including the name of the bank or lending institution, the maximum amount borrowed at any time during such period and the nature of the collateral furnished;
(21)
List lines of credit available to the applicant, including name of the bank or financial institution, and the amount of credit;
(22)
Whether the applicant contemplates any change in its capital structure or any substantial increase or decrease in its equity capital, and, if so, the full details;
(23)
Names, addresses and telephone numbers of municipalities and state agencies which have qualified the applicant during the past five years;
(24)
Provide a current balance sheet, together with the name of the preparer, and whether the assets listed are pledged, mortgaged or assigned;
(25)
Average number of individuals employed by the applicant during the past year, in each of the following categories: skilled construction, unskilled construction, office;
(26)
Summary of any litigation in which the applicant has been involved during the last five years, including, with respect to each case, the caption, court, case number, name of opposing party or parties, nature of claims by or against the applicant, the outcome or status of the case and the identity of the attorneys representing the applicant and the opposing party or parties;
(28)
Provide the name of the public improvement project and the value of the project that the contractor or subcontractor is bidding on, if applicable.
B.
The Administrator may require from time to time that additional or supplementary information be submitted by any applicant or any qualified contractor or subcontractor with respect to particular categories of public improvement projects, or with respect to a particular public improvement project, or as a follow-up to issues raised by a failure to submit required information, or by the information initially submitted, or by problems or complaints generated by work on current or recent public improvement projects, or by adverse information received from any source.
[Amended 12-8-2025 by Ord. No. 25-53]
The following are the categories of public improvement projects on which contractors and subcontractors may be qualified to perform work pursuant to this chapter:
A.
General construction.
(1)
Clearing and grubbing. A process in construction that involves clearing the removal of aboveground vegetation like trees, brush, and debris and grubbing the removal of underground roots, stumps, and any remaining organic matter.
(2)
Construction staking and layout. The process of translating architectural and engineering plans into physical markers on a job site to guide construction.
(3)
Erosion control. The practice of using devices and methods to prevent soil from being washed or blown away by rain, wind, or other forces during and after a building project.
(4)
Hydro excavating. A construction method that uses a high-pressure water jet to break up soil, which is then simultaneously vacuumed up and stored in a debris tank.
(5)
Soil borings. The process of drilling a hole into the ground to collect samples of soil and rock to analyze subsurface conditions.
(6)
Traffic control. The practice of safely managing vehicle and pedestrian flow around a work zone using signs, signals, barriers, and personnel like flaggers.
B.
General street/pavement construction.
(1)
Asphaltic pavement. The construction of all types of asphaltic pavement and related work.
(2)
Concrete pavement. The construction of concrete pavement and related work.
(3)
Grading/excavation. The process of preparing land for construction by moving and shaping soil and/or aggregate to create a desired elevation and slope.
(4)
Manhole/catch basin adjustments. Raising or lowering the manhole or catch basin frame and cover to align with a new or final grade by adding or removing bricks or grade rings.
(5)
Pulverizing or milling asphalt pavement. Milling removes the top layer of asphalt, which is then hauled away for recycling, while pulverizing grinds up the entire existing pavement and base in place, creating a new, stable base material.
(6)
Roadway masonry (sidewalk, curb and gutter, etc.). Construction of poured-in-place concrete structures or facilities, excluding roadways.
(7)
Roadway signage. Installation of traffic signs placed at the side of or above roads to give instructions, warnings, or information to drivers and pedestrians.
(8)
Saw cutting – curb head. The process of using specialized, often horizontal, concrete saws to create a curb cut, which is a sloped or angled opening in a curb for access.
(9)
Saw cutting – general. Process of using saws to cut concrete and asphalt pavements, curb and gutter, sidewalks, paths and other surfaces.
(10)
Streetlighting. Work involving trenching and underground duct work, placing of electrical cable on or under the ground, placing light bases and fixtures.
(11)
Street markings. Installation of paint, epoxy or thermoplastic markings, words, lines, arrows, and symbols to guide traffic and provide instructions to drivers.
(12)
Traffic signals. Installation of traffic signals.
C.
General utility construction.
(1)
Control monitoring systems. Monitoring security cameras, access controls, SCADA and alarm systems.
(2)
Force main construction. The process of building pressurized pipelines that transport wastewater from a lift station to a discharge point, such as a higher-elevation sewer line.
(3)
Sanitary sewer construction. The process of building underground systems of pipes to collect and transport wastewater.
(4)
Sanitary sewer lining and rehabilitation. Repairing and renewing aging or damaged sewer pipes without extensive excavation.
(5)
Storm sewer construction. The construction of a complete unit of storm sewer and drainage system improvements work.
(6)
Water main construction. The construction of mains, water main appurtenances and services.
(7)
Water tower painting. Painting of the water towers.
D.
General landscaping.
(1)
Application of herbicides. Control weeds and manage unwanted vegetation by use of chemicals.
(2)
General lawn restoration. Placement of topsoil, seed or sod, and fertilizer in order to establish or re-establish grass.
(3)
Grounds maintenance and mowing. General routine care of green space such as lawn mowing, trimming, pruning, and mulch.
(4)
Irrigation system. Installation and maintenance of irrigation mains, pumps, controls, valves, and sprinklers.
(5)
Trees, shrubs, and plants. Installation of live vegetation.
E.
General building construction.
(1)
Carpentry. Construct, install, and repair building skeletons.
(2)
Electrical. The design, installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems for residential, commercial, institutional and industrial purposes.
(3)
Fencing. Installation of fencing.
(4)
Fire protection. The installation and maintenance of building fire protection systems.
(5)
Flooring. Installation of various flooring types.
(6)
HVAC. Installation of systems installed in buildings to control indoor temperature, air quality, and humidity.
(7)
Interior plumbing. The network of pipes, valves, and fixtures installed inside a building to deliver potable water and remove waste.
(8)
Painting (exterior and interior). The process of applying paint, coatings, and finishes to protect, beautify, and maintain buildings and structures during or after construction.
(9)
Public property demolition. Process of tearing down structures.
(10)
Roofing. The process of designing and installing the protective top covering for a building, which includes all the materials and structures needed to create the final roof.
(11)
Steel work. The use of steel for a building's structural framework, or for components like reinforcement
F.
Railroad construction.
(1)
Ballasting. The process of laying a bed of crushed stone (ballast) to support and stabilize railroad tracks and ties.
(2)
Drainage structures. Systems designed to manage surface and subsurface water, preventing moisture buildup that can destabilize the track bed.
(3)
Excavating and grading track bed. Removing earth materials (excavating) and then shaping and compacting the ground (grading) to create a stable, level, and properly sloped foundation (roadbed/subgrade) for the track system.
(4)
Laying or replacement of ties, rails, turnouts, etc. Installing or exchanging the fundamental components of the railway track structure to ensure safety, stability, and operational efficiency.
G.
Other. List specific category seeking pre-qualification not already contained within this list.
The Administrator shall determine whether and with respect to which categories of public improvement projects an applicant is qualified. Such determination shall be made as soon as practical after an application and all required information is filed. In the event that an applicant fails or refuses to file required supporting or supplementary information within a reasonable period of time, the Administrator may deny qualification, entirely or with respect to certain categories of public improvement projects, or subject any qualification granted to reasonable conditions. The Administrator may attach to any determination to qualify a contractor or subcontractor under this chapter such conditions precedent or subsequent as may be reasonable in light of the purposes of this chapter and the information available to the Administrator.
The Administrator shall promptly notify the applicant in writing of any determination made with respect to qualification. Any determination to deny any qualification sought by an applicant because of the lack of required information shall specify the missing information. Any determination to deny any qualification sought by an applicant, for any reason other than missing information, shall specify with particularity the reasons for such determination. Any determination to qualify an applicant shall specify for which categories of public improvement projects the applicant is qualified and any conditions to which the qualification is subject. In the absence of a subsequent determination to modify, suspend or cancel the qualification of a contractor or subcontractor, all determinations to qualify an applicant shall be effective until the following December 31.
[Amended 12-15-1997; 12-8-2025 by Ord. No. 25-53]
A.
Biennial qualification period. Contractor and subcontractor qualifications issued under this chapter shall be valid for a biennial term beginning on January 1 of each even-numbered year and expiring on December 31 of the following odd-numbered year, unless earlier suspended, modified, or cancelled pursuant to this chapter. Applications for qualification for the upcoming biennium may be submitted beginning December 1 of each odd-numbered year. Any application received prior to December 1 of an odd-numbered year shall be processed as an application for the current biennium only.
B.
Continuation of qualification for existing contracts. Notwithstanding the expiration of a contractor’s or subcontractor’s qualification at the end of a biennium, any contractor or subcontractor that was duly qualified at the time of entering into a contract with the Village of Pleasant Prairie shall be deemed qualified for purposes of completing that contract. Such qualification shall remain in effect for the duration of the contracted public improvement project, even if the project extends into a subsequent biennium, provided that the contractor or subcontractor does not otherwise obtain a new qualification and provided further that no suspension, cancellation, or modification is imposed by the Administrator under § 150-15.
[Amended 12-8-2025 by Ord. No. 25-53]
An applicant may file an application to reconsider a prior qualification determination at any time. The fee for filing an application to reconsider a prior determination is established in the Village Fee Schedule, and such application shall be processed in the same manner as an initial or renewal application. The applicant shall file with the application an updated sworn statement of qualifications. Any such statement shall correct all outdated or incorrect information on the prior statement and shall include any new information upon which the application is based.
If a qualified contractor or subcontractor fails or refuses promptly to supply any information requested by the Administrator, or fails to satisfactorily perform work on any public improvement project, or if the Administrator receives material new information regarding the responsibility, competence or capability of the contractor or subcontractor, or its sensitivity to the necessity of performing work on public improvement projects in such a way as to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public and to minimize any disturbance, inconvenience or annoyance to the public, which demonstrates that a prior qualification determination is no longer justified, the Administrator may suspend, modify, cancel or subject to new conditions the qualification of such contractor or subcontractor, as may be reasonable in light of the purposes of this chapter and the information available to the Administrator. If the Administrator determines that materially false information was submitted on a statement of qualifications filed with the Village, the Administrator shall cancel the qualification of such contractor or subcontractor, and such contractor or subcontractor shall be ineligible for qualification for one year.
[Amended 8-16-2021 by Ord. No. 21-18]
Any person aggrieved by any determination made by the Administrator pursuant to this chapter may appeal such determination to the Village Board by filing with the Village Administrator or the Village Administrator's designee a notice of appeal specifying with particularity the grounds for believing that the Administrator's determination is erroneous. Any such notice of appeal shall be filed within 30 days after the date of mailing to the appellant of the Administrator's written determination on standard forms approved by the Village Board and available from the Village Administrator. The appellant shall pay to the Treasurer, at the time of filing the notice of appeal, a fee as established in the Village Fee Schedule to help defray the costs of appeal. The appellant shall be given not less than 10 days' advance written notice of the date, time and place of the hearing. The appellant may be represented by counsel at the hearing, may present evidence and argument relevant to the issues raised by the notice of appeal, and may question witnesses called to support the Administrator's determination. The appellant shall have the burden of proving that it is qualified and that any conditions imposed on its qualification are not reasonable. The Village Board may reverse, affirm or modify the determination of the Administrator, and the Board's decision shall be final. The Village Board shall promptly notify the appellant of its findings in writing.
The contents of any statement of qualifications or any related information, including any additional, updated or supplemental information, filed by a person pursuant to this chapter shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed except upon the written order of such person, or for necessary use by the Administrator or the Village Board in qualifying such person, or in cases of court or administrative action against or by such person, or against or by the Administrator or the Village.
[Amended 8-16-2021 by Ord. No. 21-18]
The Village may institute any appropriate legal actions or proceedings to enforce the provisions of this chapter by means of injunction, forfeitures or otherwise, as provided by law. Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $500 for each violation, plus the costs of prosecution. The penalty for default of payment of any such forfeiture and costs shall be imprisonment in the Kenosha County Jail until payment thereof, but not exceeding 90 days. Each day a violation exists or continues shall constitute a separate violation.
[Added 12-8-2025 by Ord. No. 25-53]
A.
General requirements. As a condition of qualification under this chapter, every contractor and subcontractor shall maintain, at all times during the term of qualification and throughout the performance of any public improvement project, insurance coverage meeting or exceeding the minimum requirements set forth in this section. All policies shall be issued by insurers authorized to do business in the State of Wisconsin.
B.
Required coverages and minimum limits. Contractors and subcontractors shall maintain, at minimum, the following insurance limits, consistent with the standards established by the Village:
(5)
Pollution liability (if applicable to the category of work).
(a)
No minimum limit specified under Village standards; coverage required when work involves environmental risk.
* Limits may be reduced if the total of the umbrella/excess “each occurrence” limit combined with the underlying commercial general liability limits equals or exceeds $6,000,000. |
C.
Additional insured; primary and non-contributory coverage. The Village of Pleasant Prairie shall be named as an additional insured on all commercial general liability, automobile liability, pollution liability (if applicable), and umbrella/excess liability policies. Coverage afforded to the Village as an additional insured shall be primary and non-contributory with any other insurance available to the Village.
D.
Waiver of subrogation. Policies for commercial general liability and workers’ compensation shall include a waiver of subrogation in favor of the Village of Pleasant Prairie.
E.
Proof of insurance. A current certificate of insurance meeting the requirements of this section shall be submitted with each statement of qualifications and shall be maintained continuously. Failure to maintain required insurance coverage shall constitute grounds for suspension, modification, or cancellation of qualification under § 150-15.