Platteville council approves 2025 budget, two rezones and a $3.025 million water-and-sewer bond; tables snow‑and‑ice policy

Platteville — The City of Platteville Common Council on Nov. 26 adopted the 2025 city budget and a companion wage resolution, approved two property rezonings, authorized the sale of $3,025,000 in water-and-sewer revenue bonds and approved a string of other fiscal and project actions. The council also voted to table consideration of a revised snow-and-ice enforcement/contract price schedule for further review and public input.

The council approved the 2025 operating and capital budgets in a motion to adopt Resolution 24-19, which sets total revenue and expense for non-utility funds at $35,487,565; members then approved Resolution 24-20 to authorize wage rates for permanent city employees that are included in the 2025 budget. Council discussion acknowledged the long budget process, a lower tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value driven by the 2024 revaluation, and remaining tradeoffs between needs and available funds.

In planning actions, the council rezoned two small, vacant parcels after staff presentations. Ordinance 24-12 rezoned 645 East Main Street from M-1 (heavy commercial/light manufacturing) to R-2 (one- and two-family residential) at the applicant’s request to allow a single-family home on the roughly 50-by-74-foot lot. Staff said the parcel’s small size, slope and low traffic counts make it unsuitable for industrial or warehouse uses.

Ordinance 24-13 rezoned the building at 250 North Court Street (a former shelter and convent) from Institutional (I-2) to R-3 multifamily residential. Staff explained the existing structure could be used as a rooming house; building- and zoning-code limits (bedroom sizes, bathroom facilities and off-street parking) will constrain occupancy. Staff estimated the building code could allow up to 16 occupants but current parking as striped (five spaces) would limit occupancy to about six; reconfiguring the lot could allow eight spaces and up to 10 occupants under zoning rules.

On financing, the council adopted Resolution 24-21 authorizing issuance and sale of water-and-sewer system revenue bonds (Series 2024C) in the amount of $3,025,000 (sale-day update). Municipal advisor presentation to the council reported competitive bids from seven underwriters, with the low true interest cost from an underwriter at about 3.89%. The advisor flagged that the combined utility debt-coverage metrics are adequate but that the sewer utility is lagging and will require planned rate adjustments going forward to maintain coverage and credit strength.

Other actions included: approval of an ordinance amendment (24-14) to move from vendor-branded plastic “dollar” bags to low-cost stickers for excess solid-waste and yard-waste collection; authorization for Kramer Brothers (construction manager) to subcontract demolition of the O.E. Gray school and the former Peterson properties to Owens Excavating and Trenching (low qualified bid, $49,000); and adoption of two budget amendments reallocating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and moving a 2024 paydown/contribution between TIF districts to reflect short-term cash positions.

Council discussion also covered a staff recommendation to reject or accept a single bid for private snow-and-ice removal enforcement (Contract 9-24). The single contractor bid submitted for sidewalk snow-and-ice removal proposed minimum per-location charges substantially higher than in prior years; staff presented an alternative to have city crews perform enforcement work at a lower charge but warned of possible overtime and staffing impacts. After extended discussion about equity, repeat noncompliance and administrative costs, the council voted to table the item to the Dec. 10 meeting and asked staff to provide more data and community notice options.

Several informational items were discussed and will return for action in coming meetings: a proposed applicant grant application to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation for redevelopment of 825 E. Business Highway 151 (idle sites program), a proposed advisory referendum question in April 2025 on borrowing up to $6.9 million to replace the city’s outdoor aquatic center, an update on fixed-route transit bids and an emergency-services agreement draft with Southwest Health that would reset partner contributions and run through Dec. 31, 2034 unless terminated earlier.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 24-12 (rezoning, 645 East Main St.): Motion to approve rezoning to R-2; mover: Todd Casper; second: Lynn Parrott; outcome: approved (motion carries).

- Ordinance 24-13 (rezoning, 250 North Court St.): Motion to approve rezoning to R-3 multifamily; mover: Bob Gates; second: Todd Casper; outcome: approved (motion carries).

- Ordinance 24-14 (amend Chapter 11: switch from bags to stickers for excess refuse/yard waste): mover: Kathy Kopp; second: Ken Killian; outcome: approved.

- Resolution 24-19 (2025 budget adoption): mover: Todd Casper; second: Lynn Parrott; outcome: approved.

- Resolution 24-20 (authorize 2025 wage rates, excluding union/library/city manager matters): mover: Bob Gates; second: Todd Casper; outcome: approved.

- Resolution 24-21 (issue $3,025,000 water-and-sewer revenue bonds, Series 2024C): mover: Todd Casper; second: Kathy Kopp; outcome: approved.

- Contract award (demolition OE Gray & 220 W. Adams): authorize Kramer Brothers to subcontract to Owens Excavating & Trenching for demolition, $49,000; mover: Kathy Kopp; second: Lynn Parrott; outcome: approved.

- Budget amendment #3 (reallocate ARPA funds to purchase mini-excavator, bond counsel and pool wage shortfall): mover: Bob Gates; second: Ken Killian; outcome: approved.

- Budget amendment #4 (move 2024 paydown/contribution from TIF 9 to TIF 6): mover: Tom Noll; second: Lynn Parrott; outcome: approved.

- Contract 9-24 (sidewalk snow-and-ice removal enforcement/pricing): motion to table to Dec. 10 for further review; mover: (motion to table) Tom Noll; second: Lynn Parrott; outcome: tabled.

What the council directed next

Staff was asked to provide additional analysis and community notice options for the snow-and-ice enforcement pricing proposal, to supply updated tax-impact figures for the proposed pool referendum borrowing (Ehlers will produce a formal estimate), and to return ordinance language or implementing agreements for lead-service-line deadline adjustments, emergency-services agreement final terms and the idle-sites grant application if the city manager/clerk deem them ready for formal action.

Ending note

Council members and staff thanked municipal departments and advisory groups for months of work on the budget and capital planning. Items expected on the Dec. 10 council agenda include the snow-and-ice contract decision, the idle-sites grant agreement, and additional follow-up on pool-financing estimates.