[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,86,98],{"_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",6789544,"mediaKeyId","5711610-639e9560e9569d9ccfc14c6112edef0f","parentId",5711610,"title","Votes at a glance: minutes, sculpture acceptance, adjournment","audioSeconds",3300,"startMs",176389,"endMs",3476930,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711610-639e9560e9569d9ccfc14c6112edef0f&start=176&end=3476","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711610-639e9560e9569d9ccfc14c6112edef0f/thumbnail_176389.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6789544/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Votes-at-a-glance-minutes-sculpture-acceptance-adjournment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6789544-e4a56cd8f7c201fc71adbddfad8aff2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1774851958&Signature=jOdlgb6EeEwJ3kCqqTNqr~mLsNnKAjI45EJK0QzDSzi3aQdkNViExBPUeT1jaGRa9Uyx0hnWAQd4rglPxqlmpRCH28SauooeMjkXUSpn0WQIr8BMFpA3xzGSs4WQHbNJ-06QnaiD2fldfm7lrqRH-ZDIUE2vIkc5p6MpFy7soSBqdKT8ryfhInQ95HnwbYp8rt14~T6lwrIiQ5McEEF49hmKC57Yx8A3wx-cQD0IY71zom~YR2VkL9zkGDXdpj~0BCDnOiKOleAG5t5q2~rbw1xlK7TBzMREysn5Y~NIwkQr1vrxUfKDQ49zpTWRZ5lorrEWKOlNwa9lWifDO89VGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Wausau, WI","date","2025-09-03T02:24:00.597Z","article","At its Sept. 2 meeting the City of Wausau Parks and Recreation Committee recorded the following formal actions:

• Approval of minutes: Motion to approve the minutes of the Aug. 4, 2024 meeting was made and seconded; the chair called for aye votes and the motion passed unanimously.

• Sculpture acceptance: Motion by Alder Rasmussen, seconded by Alder Lukens, to approve installation and acceptance of the proposed Walter Alexander Foundation bronze sculpture (and to commit to long‑term maintenance) passed by voice vote; proposal will proceed to the Arts Commission and Plan Commission for review.

• Adjournment: Motion by Alder Watson, seconded by Alder Luke Gonzalez, to adjourn passed by voice vote.

Committee directions recorded during the meeting included a request for Parks staff to inventory trails and return with a signage and calming‑device proposal, and to develop a riverfront sign plan and inventory of man‑made structures for off‑season consideration. No ordinance changes were approved at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wausau Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting - 9/2/25","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved the Aug. 4 minutes, voted to recommend acceptance of the Walter Alexander–funded sculpture, and approved adjournment; staff was directed to return with signage and mowing items for future agendas.","taxTitle","Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin","taxId",4562,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":46,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6789548,"Committee approves donated bronze sculpture for River Edge Trail",419,3056989,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711610-639e9560e9569d9ccfc14c6112edef0f&start=3056&end=3476","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711610-639e9560e9569d9ccfc14c6112edef0f/thumbnail_3056989.jpg","/articles/6789548/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Committee-approves-donated-bronze-sculpture-for-River-Edge-Trail","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6789548-77e6d1de1d2ec58fa91cea8a8a0bbbf9/orig.mp4?Expires=1774851958&Signature=XlL6eut6EkkZEoKIsQm8ezuB5~TGB4Bjfw0DcdQ3op8427iGVR7wwKq4QRHJhuzVcUlAX82V~CkYf62awGnhmAST2wIYTB2zUMrZSWaUP961LikzPcwVScVZyyKwtwh6ya0pvYOpoaYa-eqoShVsowsjJOtLwwZ2YD42ZNxSs3xbG7k5bITD5bFamv~501q0YnMQtvG2WBhjUZCtmUplaLa67D9A8nqakNMTd7HzGRfcDz-WIzZmCadINjgOXCA~4iOOeCOem5FjxUarf24gI1VW5WXtnsTCKKAgbtfibg7o7Ce11DZu23OfFjZHtS1ha5UvGbK7Cwu8T8COTv0kPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Parks and Recreation Committee voted Sept. 2 to approve the installation and acceptance of a proposed bronze sculpture for the River Edge Trail, to be funded by the Walter Alexander Foundation and the Judd S. Alexander Foundation.

Jamie told members materials in the packet had been intended for the Arts Commission and described maintenance considerations. Brad Lenz, representing the Walter Alexander Foundation, said the foundations would fund the sculpture and base and that the city’s obligations would be site preparation and ongoing maintenance and lighting infrastructure. \"They would donate it to the city for a public sculpture and we would be required to maintain it over the long term,\" Lenz said.

Committee members voiced support for the piece as a nod to local river history and visual interest along the trail. Alder Rasmussen moved that the committee recommend approval of the installation and acceptance of the sculpture and that the city commit to maintenance; Alder Lukens seconded. The chair called for aye votes and the motion passed by voice vote.

Jamie and members discussed that the Parks Department’s sign shop and local contractors could perform periodic cleaning and waxing; Lenz estimated cleaning and waxing could cost from a few hundred to about $1,000 per sculpture every two to three years depending on desired finish. The project will return to the Arts Commission and Plan Commission as part of the approval process.","The committee recommended the Arts Commission approve a Walter Alexander Foundation–funded bronze sculpture near Barker Stewart Island; the foundation will fund the piece and the city will prepare the site and assume long‑term maintenance responsibilities.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6789554,"City attorney outlines recreational‑immunity limits after May drowning at River Life pier",594,1420390,2014710,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711610-639e9560e9569d9ccfc14c6112edef0f&start=1420&end=2014","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711610-639e9560e9569d9ccfc14c6112edef0f/thumbnail_1420390.jpg","/articles/6789554/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/City-attorney-outlines-recreationalimmunity-limits-after-May-drowning-at-River-Life-pier","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6789554-e4904123a390451f2de0c161726ab5da/orig.mp4?Expires=1774851958&Signature=Sgvv~PhPqTE7PlppIutjCXFsQY88JxVC2NcBTfSKh31H9DbFE9pVFGL6LJIAbH8xfeMORh8BUc-cUB4zT97bCeVGoaAjuUR83AJkPQPkYFQ~DvwZni4n~g23zlrzqU2OzKvW2N4pN0T4Yh9Sm3qqhvTshCT~--udtQsdiLY5olFSTHBn31ThYB~eGwVP2SYKWESV~sphE8adCOAz8uJBbPgwLvm9qkKH9dEHiKzmj8LNxZoIqG7UQku~dq6K84071q3ObSXwcETKgLjf5wLEbrilav0T8hM3i1Zh8V2ecXC9LsUmJyy84PyycxOem3gSnG6JM6ZIp47Dxvz0C3ovuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Wausau’s city attorney briefed Parks and Recreation Committee members Sept. 2 on recreational and governmental immunity in the wake of a May 11 drowning at a River Life pier.

Attorney Jacobson said the city received multiple requests earlier this summer for safety equipment and signage and that the department provided a memo for the committee’s review. He said Wisconsin’s recreational‑immunity statute broadly shields municipalities that do not charge fees from duty‑to‑warn claims, though there are exceptions if a municipality maliciously fails to warn of a known hazard or negligently maintains safety equipment. Jacobson noted, “If the life jackets or life rings or throwboys are damaged or missing, there might be a potential situation where someone needed it and it weren’t there and you had decided to put it there that you could be sued.”

Jacobson cited prior cases to illustrate the boundary between immunity and liability and noted the general tort cap under Wis. Stat. § 893.80 (a cap discussed in the committee memo). He also said placement of signs and safety equipment is a discretionary municipal decision and therefore generally covered by governmental immunity, but stressed that adopting a duty to provide safety and then failing to maintain that equipment can create exposure.

Committee members urged a balanced approach. Several alder members argued that even where immunity likely applies, the city has a community obligation to reduce hazards at riverfront features that invite access. Jamie said the Parks Department can post signs and install equipment at man‑made structures such as wharves or docks but warned that long‑term maintenance requires staff time and budget. Jacobson and Jamie recommended the committee request a focused sign plan and inventory of riverfront structures so the city can prioritize sites where man‑made features create greater risk.

No formal action was taken; the committee asked staff to prepare a sign plan and consider modifications to high‑risk structures as part of off‑season planning.","City attorney briefed the Parks Committee on Wisconsin's recreational and governmental immunity after a May 11 drowning; while discretionary signage and equipment placement is generally protected, negligent maintenance or malicious failure to warn can create liability.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6789558,"Wausau committee: e‑bikes treated as bicycles under state law, staff to propose trail signage",126,200050,326270,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711610-639e9560e9569d9ccfc14c6112edef0f&start=200&end=326","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711610-639e9560e9569d9ccfc14c6112edef0f/thumbnail_200050.jpg","/articles/6789558/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Wausau-committee-ebikes-treated-as-bicycles-under-state-law-staff-to-propose-trail-signage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6789558-24127ec839270e616b09ba7ff01c3fba/orig.mp4?Expires=1774851958&Signature=fI15MQUTVZ~2X~y8fPQmRr4H9qD4YU~rqcAixBWndm4fI1gC6AXoS-xm2iN8fftakeOL5Jwtf155enTVvx379CPlY30jJxfsySYg5pNxXIjcMoLAc-Zeaos~THf49yHoYtHog0imN3caLrd6NcjOZOMF6xAvnhg8CnpLPj8r4MXiyIUpT~c9Zwbt65A-DrCzF3HV3Qx257Ki2SG1yEUbOZpn9OIF3HgIKssPU0A7gmDCpJt9z6wCuG2U6e1PG5Ri8yW4PYEN0uJSO0~fO2wvhhyxqbCuWTJAaYEYur~LcFu-Zmh3ADFPqLDO5MUIUjW4K19jYKRHIuT-MytJo50xOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Wausau Parks and Recreation Committee discussed e‑bike rules and trail safety at its Sept. 2 meeting, with staff saying state law and current city code already treat pedal‑assist e‑bikes as bicycles.

Jamie, Parks Department staff, told the committee the city references state statute 340‑01 and that “the state recognizes all three classes of E bikes as E bikes as long as they have pedals that propel it forward.” She said under that definition e‑bikes that meet the statute are permitted on city trails and that the city’s park ordinance already limits trail speed to 15 miles per hour, though there is little posted signage at present.

Several alder members said the practical problem is enforcement. “We definitely need to post the 15 mile per hour speed limits for sure,” Alder Neal said, recommending signage on heavily traveled corridors and exploring speed humps or temporary bump devices. Committee members discussed trade‑offs: temporary bumps can be removed in the off‑season and may be easier to plow around than permanent humps, while physical barriers can raise accessibility and trip‑hazard concerns for people with visual impairments.

Jamie said the department can prepare signs and install them at discrete locations but warned of staffing and long‑term maintenance costs if the committee wants equipment (for example, throw rings or other physical devices). Jamie summarized the committee’s next step: “If you want signage up, that’s just a direction from the committee. We can get 15 mile an hour signs made and get them posted, especially on the River Edge Trail.”

The committee directed Parks staff to inventory city parks and trails, prioritize heavily traveled segments such as the River Edge Trail, and return with a proposal for signage, user‑courtesy rules and options for temporary calming measures ahead of next season.","Parks staff told the committee state statute treats pedal‑assist e‑bikes as bicycles and current city code allows them on trails; alder members asked staff to inventory heavily used trails and return with a signage and calming-device proposal for next season.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: minutes, sculpture acceptance, adjournment

Committee approves donated bronze sculpture for River Edge Trail

City attorney outlines recreational‑immunity limits after May drowning at River Life pier

Wausau committee: e‑bikes treated as bicycles under state law, staff to propose trail signage