Council approves tree contract, leases, permits, land and finance items; actions and vote details

The Menomonie City Council voted on multiple contracts, permits, land‑use items and a borrowing resolution during its March 24 meeting. The following is a concise, factual summary of motions, movers/seconders and recorded outcomes as taken from the meeting transcript.

Votes at a glance

- Urban forestry tree contract (award to Legacy Trees) — motion by Lee; second by Rylan. Council recorded roll call: Luther — Yes; McCullough — Yes; Schweppes — Yes; Gantz — Yes; Silberk — Yes; Schlu — Yes; Erdman — Yes; Sommerfeld — Yes. Motion approved. Contract amount: $22,360; quantity: 104 two‑inch caliper trees and a five‑year warranty; vendor to provide planting training and skid‑steer attachment.

- Lease extension: Thrive Psychological and Counseling Services LLC (City Hall, three‑year) — motion by Chad; second by Randy. Voice vote: Aye. Motion approved. (Current tenant; three‑year extension.)

- Lease extension: United Way Saint Croix and Red Cedar Valley Inc. (City Hall, one‑year) — motion by Lee; second by Laura. Voice vote: Aye. Motion approved. (Current tenant; one‑year extension.)

- MS4 stormwater annual report (2024) — motion by Laura; second by Ryland. Voice vote: Aye. Motion approved. Summary from staff: education/outreach events (17 city‑led); 43 outfalls inspected; 31 publicly owned ponds inspected; 15 erosion control inspections for sites >1 acre; one illicit discharge complaint reported.

- Well Number 9 site selection (Wakanda Park chosen) — motion by Mary; second by Lee. Voice vote: Aye. Motion approved. Staff recommended Wakanda Park because test wells showed higher yield (estimated ~800 gpm vs ~350 gpm at Phelan), similar water quality, shorter main/force‑main extension distance and better local control of the recharge area. PFAS testing: no detects reported for either test site. Estimated additional piping for Phelan site would have been ~ $1.8 million in extra costs.

- Phillips certified survey map (Technical Drive East) — motion by Lee; second by Jeff. Voice vote: Aye. Motion approved. The CSM creates three lots and includes an outlot to preserve a TID 17 connection; easements affecting former rear lot lines will be released as part of approval.

- First amendment to development agreement with Menomni Holdings 1 LLC — motion by Laura; second by Randy. Roll call recorded in transcript with affirmative votes; motion approved. Amendment permits the developer the option to expand an existing building rather than construct a separate third building without changing required assessed‑value thresholds for incentives.

- Police Lieutenants contract 2025‑26 — motion by Chad; second by Randy. Roll call recorded in transcript with affirmative votes; motion approved. Contract provides a 3% increase for 2025‑26.

- Resolution authorizing issuance/sale of $2,820,000 general obligation promissory notes (Series 2025A) — motion by Lee; second by Randy. Roll call recorded with affirmative votes; resolution approved to proceed with public sale process and presale timetable. The presale report presented estimated a combined borrowing of $2,820,000 to fund capital projects including streets, facilities and utility portions; preliminary interest assumptions and projected debt levy impacts were discussed by the city’s municipal advisor; staff will solicit bids with sale timing noted for the council’s April 21 meeting.

- Mayoral appointments to boards and commissions (several renewals and one new alternate) — motion by Ryland; second by Randy. Voice vote: Aye. Motion approved. Appointments included renewals to the Recreation Advisory Board and Board of Appeals and a new alternate for the Board of Appeals.

- Revised claims list (payment authorization) — motion by Mary; second by Chad. Roll call recorded in transcript with affirmative votes; motion approved.

- Revised license list — motion by Ryland; second by Randy. Voice vote: Aye. Motion approved.

What council recorded and what remains for staff

Council approved all items listed above at the March 24 meeting as recorded in the transcript. Several approvals included roll‑call recorded names from the transcript; other approvals were completed by voice vote. Staff or administrators noted additional implementation steps or follow‑ups in the meeting (for example, staff to submit the MS4 report to DNR; staff to proceed with presale and rating work for the financing plan; city to begin planning for Pine Avenue construction). The city did not finalize note sale pricing at the meeting; staff and the city’s municipal advisor will solicit bids and return to the council with final sale terms.

Sources: Motions, seconds and roll‑call votes as recorded in the meeting transcript; staff presentations and project summaries given to the council.