[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6491780,"mediaKeyId","5745007-59ba4f777464d31fd39b3e457cb14762","parentId",5745007,"title","Wausau council: appointments, rules changes, vacancy process and other measures approved","audioSeconds",6574,"startMs",2320000,"endMs",8894000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5745007-59ba4f777464d31fd39b3e457cb14762&start=2320&end=8894","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5745007-59ba4f777464d31fd39b3e457cb14762/thumbnail_2320000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6491780/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Wausau-council-appointments-rules-changes-vacancy-process-and-other-measures-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491780-d1f2cfd7e0f6b90776d00626dc3cd47f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775272134&Signature=P3tT~HXvnKE0KlcmvWeKwMQbcxraESDsPX9g6-FoabkCIpLWIGEsb3IW2UUJEZeaqV80mvBmjaa6TWGaAWev4o8jR0KzhXX0~nrSSqZIeQwb6VJdBceD6UD9H32walsF-MSD74UMW1KMMSzclF8QOmt~m2E5caizhU5p7QiUTTFy8CWCJ0q7qqii7TVB~8wAvxN3nG58MHDVXj1s9SQGy6P0dPioqQrUJBN~oF41dES-SeSKUK2a~d1EhY2CAdIQXYHcGsNKE~Eh6kaafwH8GjRN~J68Cwei9lSroXjU-W7WcvxMHPCumcHj9ZYcM8-EuLEev7GZIFa~e-F~8PL-hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Wausau, WI","date","2025-09-09T22:49:40Z","article","The Wausau Common Council on Sept. 9 approved a number of administrative and governance items after debate on several. Highlights:

- Appointments and ethics board: The council confirmed Michael Martins to the Historic Preservation Commission and confirmed a police and fire commission appointment; both passed unanimously. The mayor
lso nominated a member to the ethics board; councilmembers debated whether to act while an ethics investigation remains open and ultimately tabled consideration of the ethics-board nominee indefinitely, 9-1.

- Minutes and record-keeping: Council members debated augmentation memos attached to clerk-prepared minutes and voted to remove an augmentation memo attached to the June 10 minutes, approving the clerk\rraft as the official record. The motion to remove the augmentation memo and approve the June 10 minutes as presented passed 10-0; the three other sets of minutes were approved separately.

- District 5 vacancy: With the District 5 seat vacant after the recent passing of Alder Gisselman, the council voted 7-3 to adopt a resolution directing the city clerk to open an application period and deliver qualified applicants for the council to interview and appoint a temporary representative to serve until the April election. The motion authorizes notice in the city\resignated newspaper and on the city website.

- Standing rules and public comment: The council adopted a Committee of the Whole\rraft public-comment statement (\"The city of Wausau recognizes the value of public comment...\") unanimously, and then approved amendments to chapter 2.16 (standing rules) changing the order of business and moving mayor communications/recommendations later in the meeting. The overall rules ordinance (file 250907) passed 8-2 after extended debate about the role and timing of mayoral communications.

- Lead service-line funding: The council adopted a resolution asking the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to allow municipalities to use up to 25% of an awarded lead service-line replacement loan for professional services and community outreach, rather than limiting that allowance to the construction portion of an award. The measure passed 10-0. City staff said outreach is essential for resident enrollment and scheduling, and that DNR's current interpretation would reduce the city's ability to fund necessary outreach.

- Liability insurance (CIVMEC): The council resolved to remain a CIVMEC member for policy year 2026 and amended the resolution to limit the commitment to 2026 only; the amended motion passed 10-0. Finance committee members said they will issue an RFP next year to compare market options while preserving CIVMEC dividends for the current year.

Votes at a glance (selected items)
- File 250902: Resolution confirming mayoral appointments (Historic Preservation Commission; Police & Fire Commission; Ethics Board nominee). Historic Preservation appointment (Michael Martins): Passed 10-0. Police & Fire appointment: Passed 10-0. Ethics Board nominee: Motion to table indefinitely: Passed 9-1 (item tabled).

- File 25080801 / consent: Approval of most consent minutes passed 10-0; separate action removed augmentation memo from June 10 minutes and approved June 10 minutes as recorded: Passed 10-0.

- District 5 vacancy (file 02/4300): Adopt selection process (application period, notice in designated paper and city website, council interviews and appointment): Passed 7-3. (Mover: Watson; seconder: Rasmussen.)

- File 250906: Committee of the Whole public comment statement: Passed 10-0.

- File 250907: Ordinance amending standing rules (order of business, introduction of business, committees, citizen right to address the council, manner of deliberation): Passed 8-2.

- File 250911: Resolution asking the Wisconsin DNR to allow up to 25% of award amount to go to professional services/public outreach for lead service-line replacements: Passed 10-0.

- Resolution re CIVMEC membership (file 990916 amended): Continue CIVMEC for policy year 2026; council will pursue RFP in 2026 for future policies: Passed 10-0 (amendment to limit to policy year 2026).

Context and notes
Council discussion on these items ranged from procedural (minutes and rule changes) to policy and constituent services (lead service-line outreach, interim representation for District 5). On the rules change, councilmembers argued about whether mayoral communications should appear at the start or end of meetings; supporters said moving mayor communications later reduces early-session conflicts and keeps focus on public business, while opponents said it unfairly limits mayoral prerogative.

Several motions required two-thirds votes (suspension of rules) to proceed; council recorded those roll-call results according to the city\fharter and council rules.

Ending
The council finished a packed agenda with multiple unanimous and near-unanimous votes on administrative measures while sending the Highway 52 design back to committee for more work. Staff will implement the District 5 application process and post notices as directed, and the clerk was instructed to publish the vacancy notice and collect applications.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wausau City Council Meeting Pt.1 - 9/9/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Wausau Common Council on Sept. 9 approved confirmations, revised standing rules, adopted a District 5 vacancy selection process and passed several other administrative resolutions, while tabling an ethics-board nomination and returning the Highway 52 design to committee.","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},6491785,"Council rejects Infrastructure committee\resign for State Highway 52 (East Wausau Avenue) after hours of debate",5694,3677000,9371000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5745007-59ba4f777464d31fd39b3e457cb14762&start=3677&end=9371","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5745007-59ba4f777464d31fd39b3e457cb14762/thumbnail_3677000.jpg","/articles/6491785/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Council-rejects-Infrastructure-committeeesign-for-State-Highway-52-East-Wausau-Avenue-after-hours-of-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491785-d81069d8f4f7d5c9a11b5ab5b7b39e90/orig.mp4?Expires=1775272134&Signature=WW2kxlya~oaqPuD-kPD4hnDQY-LGQMS0omkIpZbYFg0KjsT6M9R2ag7ZJezUNcbRUR1IgkqnFLU14epIgiv0f95nH255lSB-ky9VAxJQRh~VI3lGARozvRMe2VcQJXKNWctMoLcvUASJ6UKkqa02vq9Np3~iFme6irpKq7UA3PdeXbAk9x~7Yt6cjKIOm7b7A2ZS9~J01hov3h1GNeousz9VVjvIpYuDtEb~06qt7UBminXXSsCCnrEp1yLc4ProxIefxfO7v-DG3xb6FngrJSpBDR9bmGeyKn0dsGDfUXSm0OhvKRllm~RFxN0mysLH799jIY~8KVGYrX0B3lXplw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wausau Common Council on Sept. 9 rejected a design recommendation for State Highway 52 (East Wausau Avenue) between North Sixth and North Eighteenth streets, voting 5-6 after more than two hours of public and council debate.

The Infrastructure & Facilities committee had forwarded a blended design that would add a two-way left-turn lane (a \"twiddle\") from Sixth to Thirteenth Street, include bike lanes on the roadway, and a multiuse path on the south side from Thirteenth to Eighteenth. Supporters said the twiddle would address a high rate of rear-end crashes in the corridor. Opponents said the committee process did not sufficiently explore alternatives, that the design would require property takings in places, and that the city had not done a recent speed study.

Jonathan Smith, a resident and chair of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, asked the council not to endorse the committee recommendation. \"I\u0000am asking that you do not endorse the A2 or the A2 and C1 design proposals and ask for better for our citizens,\" Smith said during public comment.

Several alderpersons said they were sympathetic to safety goals but wanted more time to examine alternatives on a block-by-block basis. \"This project is a generational project for that neighborhood and it really, I think, provides an opportunity for us to look at this kind of thing with fresh eyes,\" Alder Neal said during debate. \"I will not support this tonight, for a variety of reasons.\"

City engineering staff and the DOT consultant defended the committee\fompromise and described technical limits. Stephanie Christiansen, the project manager for consultant EMCES, said the corridor is a state highway and certain lane and shoulder widths are required. \"A speed study can only come at the request of the municipality,\" she noted, and added that minimum design standards limit how narrow travel lanes can be. She also said engineers developed the alternate (C1) to respond to public input.

Councilmembers debated multiple technical points: whether bike facilities should be on the roadway or in a separated path, whether a continuous twiddle should extend the full corridor for consistency, and whether single-lane roundabouts at key intersections had been studied. Alan Waslowski, the city engineer, said the project team evaluated trade-offs and that a multiuse path could require right-of-way purchases that would stop a project if a single property owner refused an easement.

Alder Rasmussen offered an amendment to adopt option A2 (the twiddle) from Sixth through Eighteenth with sidewalks on both sides and no multiuse path; that amendment failed 4-6. The main motion to adopt the committee\resign also failed on a 5-6 vote.

Because the main motion failed, staff will return the project to the Infrastructure & Facilities committee for further work, according to the council chair. Council members urged additional public engagement and a clear presentation of alternatives before another council vote. The DOT consultant noted that federal and state funding timing can constrain schedule if the city delays a final decision.

Votes at a glance
- File 250910: Resolution approving design recommendation for State Highway 52 (East Wausau Avenue) from North Sixth Street to North Eighteenth Street. Motion to adopt committee recommendation: Failed, 5-6. (Mover on main motion: Alder Veil; second: Alder Henke.)

Context and next steps
Councilmembers who opposed the committee recommendation said they wanted more outreach, block-by-block drawings, and technical follow-up on right-of-way impacts, lighting decisions and speed management options. Several members specifically asked staff and the consultant to return with more detailed renderings and to document any additional property takings or construction cost changes.

The DOT consultant and city engineer said some alternatives (for example, narrowed travel lanes below state minimums) are not feasible under state rules, but that the city could re-evaluate the corridor and return to the committee with refined options. Staff also warned that delaying the decision could jeopardize available state or federal funding if the project is not ready when those programs expect construction-ready plans.

Ending
Council members and residents asked for more public meetings and a clearer presentation of trade-offs between pedestrian continuity, bicycle facilities and traffic safety. The Infrastructure & Facilities committee will receive the project back for further work; no final schedule was announced during the meeting.","The Wausau Common Council voted 5-6 to reject the Infrastructure & Facilities Committee\resign recommendation for State Highway 52 (East Wausau Avenue), after extensive public comment and split council discussion about safety, property impacts and pedestrian/cycling facilities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Wausau council: appointments, rules changes, vacancy process and other measures approved

Council rejects Infrastructure committee esign for State Highway 52 (East Wausau Avenue) after hours of debate