R/M Welcomes Ryan Spackman, P.E. as Kenosha Office Manager

R/M Welcomes Ryan Spackman, P.E. as Kenosha Office Manager

Employee-owned civil engineering firm, Ruekert & Mielke, Inc. (R/M), is excited to announce the addition of Ryan Spackman, P.E. as the Office Manager in charge of leading civil engineering for their Kenosha, Wisconsin location.

When to Consider Raising Utility Rates

When to Consider Raising Utility Rates

Considering rate increases for utilities, such as water, electric, and sewer services, becomes necessary when facing challenges like low cash flow or imminent large capital projects. Implementing gradual rate adjustments can prevent customer shock and facilitate easier budgeting, making it essential for utilities to evaluate their financial health and plan accordingly.

Mobile GIS Applications: Field Data at Your Fingertips

Mobile GIS Applications: Field Data at Your Fingertips

Mobile GIS apps put crucial infrastructure data in your hands, anywhere. Discover how Ruekert & Mielke, Inc.'s mobile GIS applications revolutionize fieldwork by providing instant access to critical infrastructure data.

Growing Together: Leveraging Forestry Grants & GIS

Growing Together: Leveraging Forestry Grants & GIS

Forestry grants play a crucial role in helping municipalities fund the development and maintenance of community forestry programs. This includes activities such as tree inventories, plantings, pruning, invasive species control, and other sustainable practices. Additionally, leveraging GIS to maintain accurate tree data keeps tree inventories and forestry management plans accurate and efficient. By combining these two tools, municipalities can effectively maintain the health and resilience of their forest ecosystems.

Finding the Perfect Fit: How to Match Your Project with the Ideal Grant

Finding the Perfect Fit: How to Match Your Project with the Ideal Grant

Securing funds for infrastructure projects can be a challenge for municipalities. The good news? There's a wealth of grant programs available to support a wide range of projects. Whether you're looking to upgrade storm drains, install solar panels, or restore your local stream, there's likely a grant program out there that aligns with your goals. Follow these steps to find the best grant to fit your project!

Is Your Municipality Prepared for the Fiber Network Expansion Boom?

Is Your Municipality Prepared for the Fiber Network Expansion Boom?

Unprecedented federal and state funding has led to a surge of municipal right-of-way permit requests from private utility companies looking to install community-wide fiber and rural broadband network infrastructure. However, projects of this magnitude place considerable demand on municipal staff and community resources. We’ve compiled a checklist of duties and best practices to prepare your community and safeguard your existing infrastructure.

Meeting Water Quality-Based Effluent Limits

Meeting Water Quality-Based Effluent Limits

Installing filters for phosphorus removal has proven to be an effective way to meet the Water Quality-Based Effluent Limits (WQELS) for effluent total phosphorus. Consideration should be given to identify potential strategies to fit filters in an existing hydraulic profile. Learn more about best practices when considering the addition of pumping equipment.

Complying with MS4 Annual Reports

Complying with MS4 Annual Reports

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) required Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) annual report is coming due on March 31, 2024. Compiling the list of various MS4 compliance items performed throughout 2023 can be a challenge. We’ve created a summary of what to expect on this year’s report.

New Funding Options for Private-Side LSL Replacements

New Funding Options for Private-Side LSL Replacements

A new option to fund replacing private lead service lines (LSLs) has just been introduced. This option allows municipalities to create a new program utility that is completely separate from their water utilities. This new utility would loan money to property owners to fund replacing their LSLs.

Wetland and Waterway Rules: What You Need to Know for Construction in 2024

Wetland and Waterway Rules: What You Need to Know for Construction in 2024

The defining jurisdictional boundary of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) has been in contention since the Clean Water Act of 1972. In August of 2023, the jurisdictional boundary of the Waters of the United States were appended to meet the Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court decision. Learn what this ruling means for the future of your projects.

STEPS TO PROCESS YOUR NEXT MUNICIPAL CONVENTIONAL WATER RATE CASE WITH THE PSC

STEPS TO PROCESS YOUR NEXT MUNICIPAL CONVENTIONAL WATER RATE CASE WITH THE PSC

Before a public utility can change water rates and begin billing those rates, the utility must receive approval from the PSC.  For water rate cases, utilities have the option to file either a Conventional Rate Case (CRC) or a Simplified Rate Case (SRC).  A CRC is recommended if your utility is making more substantial changes to rates. Learn how we can help you process your next municipal conventional water rate case with the PSC.

Cory Horton, P.E. Joins R/M as a Client Team Leader

Cory Horton, P.E. Joins R/M as a Client Team Leader

Employee-owned civil engineering firm, Ruekert & Mielke, Inc. (R/M), is excited to announce the addition of Cory Horton, PE, CFM, CPESC, EnvSP as a Client Team Leader on their Civil Engineering Team in Madison, Wisconsin.

R/M President & CEO, STAN SUGDEN, NAMED 2024 WISCONSIN TITAN 100

R/M President & CEO, STAN SUGDEN, NAMED 2024 WISCONSIN TITAN 100

Titan CEO and headline sponsor Wipfli LLP are pleased to announce Stan Sugden, P.E., CEO and President of Ruekert & Mielke, Inc., as a 2024 Wisconsin Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes Wisconsin’s Top 100 CEO’s & C-level executives. They are the area’s most accomplished business leaders in their industry using criteria that includes demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion.

Keep Your Collection System Reliable With Regular Lift Station Assessments

Keep Your Collection System Reliable With Regular Lift Station Assessments

Sanitary sewer lift stations are critical to a municipality’s infrastructure to maintain a reliable collection system. There are multiple components for lift stations that should be reviewed and assessed intermittently to make sure a station operates efficiently and effectively with redundant and back-up systems. Learn about the electrical and control components that require intermittent assessments to run efficiently.

Managing Your Community's Assets with GIS

Managing Your Community's Assets with GIS

Tracking, analyzing, and accessing essential data for a community can be a difficult, tedious task for administrators. By implementing GIS systems, questions regarding cost to manage equipment, inventory, personnel, and assets themselves can easily be answered.  Learn how the Villages of Huntley and Allouez achieve their goals by using different, customized GIS solutions to manage their assets.

Honey Creek Restoration - Serving Function and Form

Honey Creek Restoration - Serving Function and Form

The Honey Creek Headwaters and Stream Restoration Project is the revitalization of the City of Greenfield’s most commonly used park – Konkel Park. The project area included a 0.92-mile segment of Honey Creek that had been overgrown with buckthorn, filled with sediment, and had no natural inputs. Using natural channel design, the streams are now operating hydraulically like a normal stream.

Avoid Water Pollution from Stormwater Discharge with IDDE

Avoid Water Pollution from Stormwater Discharge with IDDE

Illicit discharge detection and elimination (IDDE) is part of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) Permit, and annual IDDE outfall inspections are required for all regulated MS4 communities to ensure that stormwater discharges do not pollute our waters. Learn how R/M can support your community in collecting accurate inspection data!

How the Northern Long-Eared Bat Could Impact Your Projects

How the Northern Long-Eared Bat Could Impact Your Projects

On November 29, 2022 the Northern Long-Eared Bat was reclassified as endangered. Project proponents must receive concurrence from both the State and Federal Government prior to the start of the project. Learn what this means for your project and how to implement conservation measures.