[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6218054,"mediaKeyId","3632100-063e9b47d5a40067e7ed8d6beeca9a43","parentId",3632100,"title","Wausau commission forwards 2024 wastewater CMAR to council; headworks screening and Washington Street siphon projects discussed","audioSeconds",383,"startMs",1138000,"endMs",755000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3632100-063e9b47d5a40067e7ed8d6beeca9a43&start=1138&end=755","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3632100-063e9b47d5a40067e7ed8d6beeca9a43/thumbnail_1138000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6218054/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Wausau-commission-forwards-2024-wastewater-CMAR-to-council-headworks-screening-and-Washington-Street-siphon-projects-discussed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218054-e3ca95192fbb8a54c085816fbf966360/orig.mp4?Expires=1775568844&Signature=nK0hERc1vRPFpyjTEGZRXnioWAJ14vAgYjlUGCpmdO1wcHZrY19dMX66k6kHFg4vFiGBdDI8GZJK0tahCBXKfCQ58rm9yw3aVM8Z04YtUd4exya02hM7UHjAM3sWZSn3hTOSL6A0K93~rVJk4xZIsfXXImDohjRSip4HXjKS-EPjifCfZSgQePJsP43YMu12AdYKxuDBF8Pj17QZAzC3wTYwZPc30pCm2M~FhfFQiyWUhyO5hz5pkOgY8IIm6e~e06hyYf2iEQj2v3uX1FVdxJnVsULjjnt086l9lFdjbpGSgIgzQDftqctaoJzi1M3SKS8gwqWBGlOCEl24XHH5QA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Wasau, WI","date","2025-06-03T15:46:13Z","article","The Wausau Water Works Commission on June 3 voted to forward the 2024 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report (CMAR) and an accompanying resolution to the City Council for approval at the June 10 council meeting.

Commissioners heard staff reports that the wastewater plant \"has been running well\" and that effluent and biosolids performance are meeting or exceeding requirements. Utility staff described two near-term capital projects: a headworks screening project beginning in June with a timeline that runs through late summer 2026, and a Washington Street siphon replacement that will reduce Washington Street to one lane for a few weeks during construction.

\"This comes annually as you know. And it's really our, pretty much our self grading of the wastewater facility, which is reviewed by the DNR,\" Eric Lehman said while introducing the CMAR, adding that staff will monitor impacts from the headworks project so there are no significant impacts on final effluent and biosolids.

Commissioners also discussed nutrient issues, particularly phosphorus. One commissioner noted that urban residents bear the cost of phosphorus removal while much of the nutrient load comes from rural areas. Lehman said the plant has the capability to reduce phosphorus further and that staff continues to discuss nutrient trading approaches with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and other municipalities.

Energy use and biogas were discussed. Lehman said the plant is using some biogas for heat and electricity but has flared some; he noted an operational issue with moisture in biogas that affects new boilers and may require modification to the biogas system.

With a motion from Robinson and a second from Watson, commissioners voted by voice to forward the CMAR and resolution to council. The motion passed.

Staff will return with updates on project schedules and any changes needed to maintain effluent compliance during construction.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wausau Water Works Commission Meeting - 6/03/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission voted June 3 to forward the 2024 wastewater Compliance Maintenance Annual Report (CMAR) to the City Council; staff also previewed a major headworks screening project and a Washington Street siphon replacement.","taxTitle","Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin","taxId",4562,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6218059,"Wausau utility staff ask commission to separate hiring/retention policy fixes from staffing-level cost decisions",103,897000,1000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3632100-063e9b47d5a40067e7ed8d6beeca9a43&start=897&end=1000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3632100-063e9b47d5a40067e7ed8d6beeca9a43/thumbnail_897000.jpg","/articles/6218059/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Wausau-utility-staff-ask-commission-to-separate-hiringretention-policy-fixes-from-staffing-level-cost-decisions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218059-ddbb9d4d3ec37a86aa751bca089581fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775568844&Signature=RpYwjNtWkVkPgfQCziilABMIpbDqWOd-HpHsmsvX8NW7-CFjAclyapLKZGYD-7Bca3FqMQqk~Kzyh-PVTWSkgI-xOggBc7WRy0pyXK-5HGPLXsFlVDoRqlD3MAkmJpwmjjT0rm~E5vexVyNEd7p9G63bZZTcaCIKDlzMNQr1GHCbHt02MfTLpkCyWa5M9IjOSRdmw~z9UZVTDf-hLlFeEwroNMypU~8pBPY4lhzBhZUBHPcz8GZoY4PEOzmAt86xSX8FWsNOgd89RNpF0g3NBn3xHixlgfPLWj8e3~fQYYhjUcVm-eex74-PBZGgSYo-fb2wUQdL7iYkJoWtcVdMsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wausau Water Works Commission on June 3 discussed utility staffing shortages and a Baker Tilly study with two distinct questions: how to recruit and retain staff and whether the utility should increase authorized staffing levels and absorb their costs.

Commissioner Robinson asked that the issue be split into two parts: (1) recruitment and retention policies and incentives to keep newly hired staff, and (2) staffing levels and the cost of adding positions recommended in previous reports. \"We can't keep our current positions filled, and before we start looking at new ones, I think we have to address that problem,\" Robinson said.

Eric Lehman told commissioners the HR director (Gina) was not available at the June meeting but would appear at the July meeting and that the packet included a late memo showing current employees and proposed staff levels: 20 and 16 current employees in water and sewer respectively, with proposed levels of 22 and 19. Commissioners asked staff to summarize prior Baker Tilly recommendations from the 2022 study and report what the utility has already implemented.

Commissioner Forrest asked for a concise summary of the Baker Tilly recommendations beyond compensation, noting the study also addressed safety and asset inventory. Lehman said staff would return in July with updated numbers and a breakout of recruitment, retention and staffing-level cost recommendations.

No formal personnel action was taken at the June 3 meeting; staff committed to return with HR and cost details.","Commissioners and staff asked HR to return in July with recommendations on recruitment, retention and salary/benefit policies; commissioners also asked for a separate cost analysis on proposed staffing level increases from the Baker Tilly study.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6218064,"Vandalism floods Wausau booster station; staff recommends SCADA upgrades and cameras",131,524000,655000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3632100-063e9b47d5a40067e7ed8d6beeca9a43&start=524&end=655","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3632100-063e9b47d5a40067e7ed8d6beeca9a43/thumbnail_524000.jpg","/articles/6218064/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Vandalism-floods-Wausau-booster-station-staff-recommends-SCADA-upgrades-and-cameras","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218064-31be9a37a028a9dbc80389145a73cc59/orig.mp4?Expires=1775568844&Signature=F86D0NmTXXUEBME3EXLjaIvaOC79zh1gKqGqkn7WFlUgPihr-Ee4hH~wCusrAbDaob6DfRnxWVQiMltPJ6M9NaeOPDUuypHBIY4oV1OwUmQsXQLxTb7sUImwtpW5KEOmOcbTkzUzy4UTvHpXO~BYr56qBcUiTBNsovpVA3Q4txy9VcXeYVJpvUyS7h-9qkNN6XiKMAGOei8InukXMf9eDfuyPttisOtS~F-B5Ix4bPPHMV-jaWID2ZYS6hk0gG41nHsMrZBy0xlOSYj12z34BvOMS92MUtVjheTD1YO1cD7zB3bdh75qZPVqRJthmWlbSx-ChqDOzfCfreLnVIq~~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Utility staff told the Wausau Water Works Commission on June 3 that vandals forced entry to a booster station on Old Coach Lane, opened valves and flooded equipment. The suspects later turned themselves in, and staff estimated damage at roughly $50,000.

Scott, a utility staff member who described the incident, said the vandals \"turned themselves in after the fact, but, initially, kind of flooded the booster station.\" He said pumps were not operating when the station was flooded and that the equipment dried out without major damage, but the event could have been deadly given the presence of 480-volt power.

\"We initially tried them the day it was flooded, and and nothing worked. So we're looking at probably $50,000 worth of damage,\" Scott said. A commissioner asked, \"Could have been electrocuted?\" to which Scott replied, \"Yes. Mhmm.\"

Commissioners pressed staff on whether the city could do more to secure remote facilities. Lehman said staff plans to return to the commission with an action item on security upgrades: \"We're looking at upgrading our SCADA system. Some of the upgrades we're gonna do are gonna allow us to have more video capacity so we can add cameras... We would also like to look at maybe possibly doing some fencing or some other things too.\" Lehman noted existing intrusion alarms and motor sensors tied to SCADA but said remote locations can be vulnerable during response delays.

The police are investigating; staff said they will provide a damage report to law enforcement and bring security recommendations back to the commission for possible action.","A booster station on Old Coach Lane was vandalized and briefly flooded; suspects later turned themselves in. Staff estimated up to $50,000 in damage and said planned SCADA upgrades could add camera capacity and other security measures.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6218069,"Wausau resumes lead service-line replacements after short pause; 1,000-replacement milestone expected in June",128,362000,490000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3632100-063e9b47d5a40067e7ed8d6beeca9a43&start=362&end=490","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3632100-063e9b47d5a40067e7ed8d6beeca9a43/thumbnail_362000.jpg","/articles/6218069/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Wausau-resumes-lead-service-line-replacements-after-short-pause-1000-replacement-milestone-expected-in-June","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218069-151e4990654972433075bae15fcffeb0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775568844&Signature=YvNbY-cLkvqmZzQVe3xMQpZhFx0etx2zDCGeVd8wiBqjXhBNZEVa1toX5Qbl5goJXBNCAg4n55U9r0qINRpaRKTvFzNsUMuPmvD6lTFEpnJVMO60AAni5vxxwH6O4zJTJOaReyfGkEcodvDMHyJfPoFJoS71ccCC1dAwlD2lATNzdneBSP72RitTR-w4N-Y5fJv3c55Pg~JBji3IGmQ3NJP3~Rw9oTL0LttpAkWdzxM7lHmJM80Kx6cMr79~FzKk3503S7Gy3G9LStl4hbFMQYKOusE6Phqg3tw8qR0Tm0Wn8WYZXo7x95lh71boBW5P7gvVUPiNKgt-380O8EjXHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wausau utility staff reported June 3 that the lead service-line replacement program briefly paused work to catch up on property restoration, then resumed and is expected to reach a milestone of about 1,000 replaced lines in June.

The status matters because service-line work affects residents directly and restoration quality influences public feedback. Eric Lehman, the utility director, said contractors were paused \"for about a week and a half\" because restoration work had fallen behind and that crews resumed replacements after catching up.

\"We did pause the contractor on actual replacements for about a week and a half... they did catch up, and last week, they began service line replacements again,\" Lehman said. He added that staff has been coordinating with the city's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) team to prioritize final restoration at each site.

Lehman told the commission he would notify the commission and city council when the anticipated 1,000-line milestone is achieved; staff warned that the milestone notice could create quorums and said they would send appropriate public-notice information.

Commissioners asked staff to continue coordinating on scheduling and to alert them to resident concerns tied to excavations and restorations. No new policy action was taken at the meeting.","Utility staff told the commission that contractor work halted about a week and a half for restoration catch-up, has resumed, and the city expects to hit roughly 1,000 lead service-line replacements in June.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6218074,"Wausau utility officials say city water remains at or below federal 4 ppt PFOS guidance as EPA updates approach",82,248000,330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3632100-063e9b47d5a40067e7ed8d6beeca9a43&start=248&end=330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3632100-063e9b47d5a40067e7ed8d6beeca9a43/thumbnail_248000.jpg","/articles/6218074/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Wausau-utility-officials-say-city-water-remains-at-or-below-federal-4-ppt-PFOS-guidance-as-EPA-updates-approach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218074-10110a00fac7eaae7c9f29dcd4ca4726/orig.mp4?Expires=1775568844&Signature=CftmIIfjNZYbmCEIbT0OWHdkMUqA~-pV97fl7v0QUVlZ0XyJWMGGQQGPCzJXWl~IboCJV9Mg6R-h0uR3NGChAx5zuqWLWlgwtlxoNe6zJ6z4fZ4L6hWvyI5oLKn163dRt~ta6rf2yMWrX3C5bQdYm9z3rK~8FriEPAjsQYYME5aP4IxbJcFs4BH1SusGDDFFrnOxxzDf6Bvhnc0ibTPKaGEQyXPhHcHI49LIgSPVd939cpVrzK5Nottarg0IG6hzxcy-Uj4B1zy03ViVGffsyX7kELq6mt3KOK8S6LPvIBDDeF7erJXjtbEnoygKfE3d2PqTs1pxeLLRS4HbNNmxUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wausau utility staff briefed the Wausau Water Works Commission on June 3 about recent federal activity on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and said local drinking water currently measures at or below a federal 4 parts-per-trillion (ppt) level for PFOS.

The briefing matters because federal decisions on PFAS standards could affect testing, reporting and future utility work. Commissioner Robinson said the Environmental Protection Agency appears not to be changing the 4 ppt benchmark for PFOS and that most sites with those two compounds also show additional PFAS compounds.

\"I think the important thing to notice that EPA is not modifying the 4 parts per trillion for PFOS,\" Commissioner Robinson said during the meeting. Eric Lehman, the utility director, told commissioners a highlighted EPA statement and a response from the American Water Works Association were included in the meeting packet and that staff expects more detail and data from federal agencies.

Lehman said the anticipated federal rollout will determine local implications. \"I expect more details on that,\" he said, noting that additional guidance would help utilities plan at the local level.

The packet contained an AWWA response and the EPA statement; commissioners asked staff to track further federal guidance and share it with the commission when available.

Staff did not present new compliance requirements at the meeting; Lehman said Wausau’s current sampling results keep the utility \"ahead of the game\" while awaiting federal actions.","At a June 3 Wausau Water Works Commission meeting, staff reviewed recent EPA messaging on PFAS and said local drinking water results remain at or below the 4 parts-per-trillion PFOS level; commissioners were told more federal guidance and data are expected.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Wausau commission forwards 2024 wastewater CMAR to council; headworks screening and Washington Street siphon projects discussed

Wausau utility staff ask commission to separate hiring/retention policy fixes from staffing-level cost decisions

Vandalism floods Wausau booster station; staff recommends SCADA upgrades and cameras

Wausau resumes lead service-line replacements after short pause; 1,000-replacement milestone expected in June

Wausau utility officials say city water remains at or below federal 4 ppt PFOS guidance as EPA updates approach