[{"_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",6426450,"mediaKeyId","5888278-234f3103e755429bbc2bdbdb6903fd3a","parentId",5888278,"title","Wausau parks committee urges finance to keep three pools open, reject $45,000 study on splitting parks management","audioSeconds",1938,"startMs",68120,"endMs",2006600,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5888278-234f3103e755429bbc2bdbdb6903fd3a&start=68&end=2006","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5888278-234f3103e755429bbc2bdbdb6903fd3a/thumbnail_68120.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6426450/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Wausau-parks-committee-urges-finance-to-keep-three-pools-open-reject-45000-study-on-splitting-parks-management","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6426450-dc68f7c5ddc3b60007e01803bb969bde/orig.mp4?Expires=1773591473&Signature=c-NejEC~jdCh9TU1qpw2zslbA8Ttp2VM7AhaZY4GMkYm~cAb0-6xqM9pbjyVhKFkLrgf3zmbpGeRnWDbeVnCt6r0cCUZE02iG0EPpUqQmcj-I0UkI~G0TXJCfnO3DfumtGcL71uuDMIRxeB~W9N-CnhPyuyq06zf-aBgiY2a7PLaxfWgrIHwAIt9X7ys2hlcJJZK1KvF3mfJtCKG8MBDUQgJqH55qIHz7~~0dpw-Xcin7BSkmauMGAdG9auDIlsWChw1p2BMmr-7KChmP-19823oVWa8zseElKy14zx7pXmvspnNmIdGzRh2GqS73ZKYbh85eJhTMKQUKdo2QyknzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Wausau, WI","date","2025-10-03T20:05:27Z","article","The City of Wausau Parks and Recreation Committee voted unanimously Oct. 6 to ask the finance committee to keep all three municipal pools open next summer and to recommend that a proposed $45,000 study on whether the city should withdraw from the current county-managed parks arrangement not be funded.

Committee members said the proposed study repeats work the committee concluded last year and would divert scarce funds from existing services. “I can’t support this again because of the fact that this…is wasteful wasteful spending,” Alder Rasmussen said during the meeting.

The recommendation will be forwarded to the finance committee for its third budget session. Chair Larson opened the meeting and Jamie, the parks director, provided an overview of items in the proposed budget that affect parks and forestry.

Why it matters: Committee members said the three pools are high-use amenities built with long-term debt and provide programs for different age groups. Several members said rotating or closing a pool to save roughly $30,000 to $60,000 would be unpopular with residents and would not meaningfully reduce the mill rate. Alderman Rasmussen and others noted near-record pool attendance last year and the continuing debt service on the pool projects.

Budget details presented by Jamie, the parks director, described a cost-to-continue budget that included: a projected roughly 4% budget increase for the department tied to county-directed wage adjustments; a vacancy savings of about $44,000 for city and $44,000 for county because an administrative position will not be funded; a department target to identify $149,000 in cuts; and specific options the director had proposed to meet reductions. The director said two pool-related options were included in the proposal: closing a pool entirely (approximately $60,000 in savings) or keeping all three pools filled but opening only two to the public per day (approximately $30,000 in staffing savings). The director emphasized the city would not save on water, chemicals, or maintenance by rotating the pools because all pools would be maintained operationally to support lessons and programming.

Committee members also pressed budget items the parks department had proposed or that appear in the mayor’s budget: an approximately $12,000 reduction (later described as a slightly larger reduction) to the department’s small projects fund that had previously been about $110,000; elimination of eight dumpsters at park sites (with specific removals proposed at Scofield Park and Oak Island to address illegal dumping); potential delay of wharf docks installation; and temporary shutoff of decorative fountains (the 400 Block fountain and RiverLife “leaper jets”) as short-term water-cost savings. The parks director said the RiverLife leaper jets are roughly $17,000 in annual water use and the 400 Block fountain about $20,000.

The committee briefly discussed a possible household urban forestry fee modeled on Madison’s program. Jamie said Madison charges about $7.59 per month and that a $2-per-month fee in Wausau would reduce the urban forestry levy by about 50%; a $3-per-month fee would cover the urban forestry program entirely and remove it from the levy (an estimated $600,000). The director characterized these fee ideas as options rather than proposals currently scheduled for adoption.

Several members reiterated that the committee had already reviewed whether to separate city parks from the county arrangement and found no verifiable savings once startup costs and specialized staffing were accounted for. “We determined last year already…that there was really no way to quantify or verify the alleged savings that would be gained from splitting up the departments,” Alder Lukens said. Alder Lukens and others also criticized the lack of prior notice to the parks director and the absence of CIP (Capital Improvement Program) review for new spending over $25,000.

Motion and outcome: Alder Rasmussen moved to ask the finance committee to (1) fully fund all three city pools for the coming season and (2) refuse the mayor’s request for $45,000 to study separating city parks from the county arrangement. Alder Watson seconded the motion. The committee voted unanimously to approve the recommendation; the motion was forwarded to the finance committee.

Next steps: The parks department will implement whatever budget the finance committee and full council approve. Committee members asked staff to monitor cuts such as dumpster removals for litter and illegal dumping impacts and noted that small-project carryover or year-end savings could be considered later through the finance committee if needed.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wausau Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting - 10/06/25","oneSentenceSummary","The City of Wausau Parks and Recreation Committee voted unanimously Oct. 6 to ask the finance committee to keep all three municipal pools open next summer and to recommend that a proposed $45,000 study on whether the city should withdraw from the current county-managed parks arrangement not be funded.","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},6426443,"Committee approves replacement of faded Adirondack chairs at RiverLife; staff to seek color and warranty options",435,2021175,2457165,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5888278-234f3103e755429bbc2bdbdb6903fd3a&start=2021&end=2457","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5888278-234f3103e755429bbc2bdbdb6903fd3a/thumbnail_2021175.jpg","/articles/6426443/Wausau/Marathon-County/Wisconsin/Committee-approves-replacement-of-faded-Adirondack-chairs-at-RiverLife-staff-to-seek-color-and-warranty-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6426443-22ad05f4cf8388ba05326821aa6bb086/orig.mp4?Expires=1773591473&Signature=HpEz0bDeJOn7va0FUsNQ-ElP9p~ADsIxBSTAJ~bzhVZko4wA16G26VpiruD-iXsLVtXxKcMoLXPa-tmjYYB5QjDAMZO2rIkvQuseNDWo1z6Wjcxa-7KCB1GRuMK7sOkyxvztlJumi98tTJNpolfcHpoluyyWhfu9mkW0HgWQ3tmMtwuRCKaIwrEuHm75~g-kB1~0lIukpXIe1smAN6~BamvuyEgUSntPPmmhcVRr-fQ1kAc5p5DXEsEu-PtIYT5RGZf1gTng7kDJUrudlidEZeVYD2oD0ll6UBNEpx6nUUsr8EUgi8-pFlAeodTYrqeHQ7lshr1f~hM3ILawkoVAfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Wausau Parks and Recreation Committee on Oct. 6 approved purchasing replacement Adirondack chairs for the RiverLife area and directed staff to avoid bright red colors that quickly fade.

Jamie, the parks director, told the committee staff had tried sanding, repainting and heat-gun treatments on the existing chairs without success. The packet included sample chairs from commercial vendors made of recycled plastic that were roughly $500 each. \"We do have money in our small project fund where we could replace these,\" Jamie said, noting staff would seek multiple bids and test darker and lighter colors for heat and fading concerns.

Alder Neal moved to approve purchasing replacements and asked whether a darker color would become too hot in the sun. Jamie said staff would test samples and check vendor recommendations. When asked about warranty, Jamie said the vendor in the packet offered a five-year commercial warranty for that product and that the proposed chairs are the same material as the existing ones but in different colors.

Committee members debated color and resale. Some members recommended light earth tones or light gray to limit heat and visible fading; one member noted white can show dirt and yellowing over time. The department will follow procurement rules for surplus property if the old chairs are sold; proceeds would offset the replacement cost.

Motion and outcome: Alder Neal moved to purchase replacements; Alder Watson seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Next steps: Parks staff will issue requests for proposals, test color and heat characteristics, confirm warranty and maintenance recommendations from manufacturers, and pursue surplus sale options for the faded chairs to partially offset the purchase cost.","The Parks and Recreation Committee approved replacing 17 faded Adirondack chairs at RiverLife, directing staff to seek commercial-grade recycled-plastic chairs (about $500 each) in earth tones or light colors and to explore resale of the old chairs to offset cost.","actionData","errors"]

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Wausau parks committee urges finance to keep three pools open, reject $45,000 study on splitting parks management

Committee approves replacement of faded Adirondack chairs at RiverLife; staff to seek color and warranty options