Expenditure of $201,197.70 from the general fund for payment of a claim against the state made by Pheifer Brothers Construction Co., Inc. (FE)

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill directs the expenditure of $201,197.70 from the general fund in payment of a claim against the Department of Transportation by Pheifer Brothers Construction Co., Inc. The claimant entered into a contract with DOT to perform work on the 2019 Ahnapee River Bridge project in Kewaunee County associated with DOT project 4409-12-71. The claimant asserted that the subsurface conditions differed from the conditions indicated in the bidding documents and that the claimant incurred significant additional costs as a result. The claimant claimed $201,197.70 for the cost of making multiple design changes to the project due to the differing subsurface conditions. DOT denies the claimant's assertion that there were differing subsurface conditions; asserts that the design changes were made at the claimant's request in order to facilitate fulfillment of the contract; and argues that additional compensation would be contrary to both the contract and the Wisconsin Constitution. On March 22, 2022, the Claims Board denied the claim because it concluded that the claimant has raised questions of fact with respect to the subsurface conditions of the project that are better evaluated by a court of law (see 2021 Senate Journal , p. 944-45).

Who's behind it

2 senators are its authors⁠. All 2 are Republicans.

2 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

What it would cost

State agencies filed a cost estimate. Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

• Fiscal Estimate From DOA