[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6656424,"mediaKeyId","5331702-8c7c5a106f574b1c08fa6b06b52a8a02","parentId",5331702,"title","EquiFlow program: 400 lead service lines replaced this year; city aims for 1,532 in 2025","audioSeconds",489,"startMs",2815000,"endMs",3304000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5331702-8c7c5a106f574b1c08fa6b06b52a8a02&start=2815&end=3304","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5331702-8c7c5a106f574b1c08fa6b06b52a8a02/thumbnail_2815000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6656424/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/EquiFlow-program-400-lead-service-lines-replaced-this-year-city-aims-for-1532-in-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656424-81aaf7ed7cd6e425f8e6dec36658fa30/orig.mp4?Expires=1776023422&Signature=eudCVk3Wyjo36OQuQzuX7x2qo92Rk~ShGOnpjOXQnLpMt~vV7N0lU-nlI-KhLnUm3yAA2cZKvsyH~fgVOHwFKSewGgQ6T2K5LJl00K6V9ATWq0DBYb9ZhhNvrMfpVD4P~HG~tnDlvr1yLwBqvXiLhui-HHZj3EUlUqhqvLlyMfn5VOXGpxS91wkr2i0sQidV42IdW8S00SMEL5OMVf2YKBNK1RgphqwmACzQpDFUICOb61ChmYd4IvPvXJsqRN~KVc-s4QVj8mekJx265xpJZmiu47scsRHrvpUCTRbPF0qv1-19ShIrmhNX-eG4fx1nPBC7I62i-rgKHI1~A19D6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Wausau, WI","date","2025-07-08T15:39:59Z","article","Eric Jones of CIP, the EquiFlow program manager, told the Wausau Waterworks Commission on July 8 that the city has completed about 400 lead service line replacements in 2025 and has registered roughly 1,100 properties toward a 2025 goal of 1,532 replacements.

Jones said the 2025 goal includes about 1,200 full replacements and roughly 300 partial replacements; most work completed so far has been full replacements. He told the commission the program has completed more than 4,000 verifications citywide to date, and in June alone staff completed about 41 verifications and secured about 150 right-of-entry (ROE) agreements.

Jones described outreach steps to raise registration and verification rates: an online photo-submission form, canvassing in northwest Wausau, tabling at community events and a monthly presence at a community partners campus. He also highlighted an apprenticeship initiative run with the local laborers’ union (referred to in the meeting as Liana/LUNA), which completed its first cohort of four participants in June; the cohort received classroom and on-site training in CPR, traffic control and lead service-line work and will be connected to union and local contractors for hiring.

On funding, staff said they had applied for funding for 2026 that would include about 75% principal forgiveness. Staff described an illustrative funding estimate for 2026 of roughly $17 million in total program costs with approximately $12 million in principal forgiveness and the remainder financed as loan proceeds for the city; staff said they will seek a joint finance-commission meeting with the city’s financial advisor Ehlers to review detailed numbers when available.

Jones said survey results from outreach indicate about 70% of residents would not have known they had a lead service line without the program and that more than 60% of registered households are unwilling to pay to replace their line, which underscores the program’s outreach and funding importance.

Ending: Commission members asked about recruitment and apprenticeship goals and encouraged continued canvassing and outreach. No commission action was required at the July meeting; staff expect to return with detailed financing and scheduling information for 2026 funding requests.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wausau Water Works Commission Meeting - 7/8/25","oneSentenceSummary","Contractor and program manager updated the Wausau Waterworks Commission on progress: about 400 replacements completed so far in year two, 1,100 registrations, and outreach including an apprenticeship cohort; staff said state funding with high principal forgiveness is expected for 2026.","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},6656428,"Wausau Waterworks Commission presses HR, staff for plan to address growing staffing shortfall",1146,1546000,2692000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5331702-8c7c5a106f574b1c08fa6b06b52a8a02&start=1546&end=2692","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5331702-8c7c5a106f574b1c08fa6b06b52a8a02/thumbnail_1546000.jpg","/articles/6656428/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Wausau-Waterworks-Commission-presses-HR-staff-for-plan-to-address-growing-staffing-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656428-f66dc02db2b6d75faed765eb6ef90e0b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776023422&Signature=Ax7IjkXoJHc1Z-WfRjxdIKIhsxU7UBv8xSjaEwKhQYzgmUCtGiIXJXc1BVkIhEi1LaI3Bec~SziNkO6oEMggJ-4UPLRSojzeGHRdxEWmPTzeXZzRLMglmOwExA80eN84l2ciF6MOl3xFa8YLtMPZ8jjSJwrrjhVMpjhrJjUkKdnQCZ5knkIY7F6swo1j3daSHTuSjgc~i9R6cGv9f0nIm-a6eHIiTD4gbElelorOk2Ntdabk~q8n15C33GSpz5G-0cTzYoROu0EsCdpXG28TNaApFzlscTHs~0~liE9LQt16-AmFwRNoWJEkjOiMgZu4O4hvWYdBIxe9DIp-8BzhRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wausau Waterworks Commission on July 8 discussed options to address persistent staffing shortages, recruitment and retention challenges, and wage competitiveness after the commission reviewed a Baker Tilly staffing assessment first completed in late 2022.

Eric (utility staff) told commissioners the assessment offered useful observations but that many recommendations remain unfinished; he and HR Director Lisa Nowak said the commission needs to act to avoid compounding operational risk. “This is kind of the start of the discussion,” Eric said, noting the utility has been working with Nowak to update job descriptions and identify cost implications.

Nowak said compensation is only part of the picture and that Baker Tilly’s qualitative observations complement comp-study data. “It’s not just any one thing that has caused a lot of these issues, so it’s not gonna be any one little thing that’s gonna fix them,” Nowak said. She told the commission she will seek additional HR associates to provide the bandwidth to support job-description updates, classification work and manager coaching across departments.

Commissioners asked for clearer cost estimates before approving changes. Commissioner Hadley said she needs specific numbers to decide on adding staff or wage adjustments and raised concern about the commission and HR having previously sent mixed signals on responsibility for personnel decisions.

Staff described discrete, near-term actions that could be taken before a full reclassification and wage study is complete. Those include contracting out safety training the utility has struggled to manage internally, implementing leak detection and prioritizing meter replacements, and purchasing project-management or asset-management systems. Utility staff estimated the asset-management implementation budget at roughly $500,000 to $600,000 and said it was previously deferred while the city implemented its Workday system.

Commissioners stressed speed on the highest-risk items: staff said the utility is currently about one-quarter short of its authorized staff and that mentoring and onboarding programs have been lacking, increasing turnover. The commission directed staff to continue work with HR and return with detailed cost estimates and proposed timeline; staff said they expect a progress update at the August meeting.

Ending: No formal personnel actions were taken at the July meeting. HR Director Nowak said she will present updated job descriptions, compensation comparables and requests for additional HR resources for consideration in coming weeks.

","Commissioners reviewed a Baker Tilly staffing assessment and discussed steps including updated job descriptions, a targeted wage review, contracted safety training, and an asset-management investment; HR director said she will bring detailed proposals and requested more HR staffing.",{"_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},6656433,"Wausau Water Utility posts higher 2024 net income after state loan forgiveness, PSC filing shows",643,593000,1236000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5331702-8c7c5a106f574b1c08fa6b06b52a8a02&start=593&end=1236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5331702-8c7c5a106f574b1c08fa6b06b52a8a02/thumbnail_593000.jpg","/articles/6656433/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Wausau-Water-Utility-posts-higher-2024-net-income-after-state-loan-forgiveness-PSC-filing-shows","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656433-9bc65b12667ef4e1e78f6b416a2e81ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1776023422&Signature=mXh9ZaGc4VWuB6F213mD6Z-o2F3OgI8qIKbnk~63Q5BUu9jP6UkPHKSDwSZeXpN7tRN1-uJgNJkkBbaMS45MBRtKGeY0kSzcLbxqNugdflltSkpibI8y2N83tkQPz4oHD5ACP1x2iiB4vY7vCspZaQ7ZqWnww92d5hT5ZTRPhXkmOy0NN4h31WKoYGvaPwTLEHpPtkm7v6SGxJvwq3b-H7eJV07j~MtNR1IsRM3Hw-YYUdGCaglajQUjv-IC-oq5WDsK1ns7OhCLTY03HeC0-wZzRDVR8YbSSFFBGqhTCld-d3GJC1bPNvMRuN3OvAphJXPXU9p~Wb8-pMh3avd7nA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Finance Director Groth told the Wausau Waterworks Commission on July 8 that the utility reported higher 2024 net income in its annual Public Service Commission filing, driven by a full year of final water rates and $6.5 million in state principal forgiveness tied to the GAC project.

The PSC filing shows operating revenue rose to roughly $12 million in 2024 and net income increased to about $5.1 million, Groth said. He told commissioners the $6.5 million principal forgiveness was recorded as miscellaneous nonoperating revenue because the loan for the GAC (granular activated carbon) project included a forgiveness component from the state.

That principal forgiveness and the full-year effect of new water rates also contributed to increases in utility plant assets, Groth said, noting about $15 million in plant additions in 2024 largely from the GAC project and meter replacement work. He also said the utility’s cash position improved from a cash deficit at the end of 2023 to roughly $1.4 million at the end of 2024.

The commission heard an explanation of the utility’s long-term debt accounting: a short-term note taken during 2024 increased reported short-term borrowings, but Groth said the city draws state financing over time for the GAC project and that long-term debt totals will increase as draws continue in 2025.

Mayor Doug Denny emphasized an operational metric discussed in the PSC filing: net water loss. “Last year, we had a total water loss as a percentage of net water supply of 17%. We did improve; we’re down to 13%,” Denny said, adding that the drop is likely attributable in part to recent meter replacements and ongoing leak detection efforts.

Commissioners asked whether the PSC issues any opinion on a utility’s overall financial health; Groth said the PSC compiles the financials and does not issue a qualitative opinion. The commission also discussed potential outside reviews such as Moody’s, which can produce credit ratings independently.

The utility’s rate-of-return calculation, used for future rate-change considerations under PSC rules, came in at about 7.23% for 2024, Groth said, noting that figure would not qualify the utility for a rate increase this year under current thresholds.

Commissioners and staff discussed next steps for continued construction draws on the GAC project and how the 2024 principal forgiveness and better state interest rates have affected debt servicing and sinking-fund balances. Groth recommended continuing to monitor draws as the project completes final tasks.

Ending: The commission placed the PSC report on file; commissioners had no formal vote to change the filing because it was already submitted to the PSC. Staff said the filing is publicly available on the PSC website and the commission will post a link from the utility’s site.

","The Wausau Waterworks Commission reviewed its 2024 Public Service Commission filing showing higher net income driven by rate changes and $6.5 million in state principal forgiveness for a granular activated carbon project; commissioners also heard updates on meter replacements and system water loss.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

EquiFlow program: 400 lead service lines replaced this year; city aims for 1,532 in 2025

Wausau Waterworks Commission presses HR, staff for plan to address growing staffing shortfall

Wausau Water Utility posts higher 2024 net income after state loan forgiveness, PSC filing shows