The Marshfield Common Council reviewed proposed changes to the 2026–2030 capital improvement plan (CIP) at its Aug. 5 meeting and voted to send the plan, as amended, to the council for final review and approval.

The amended motion — advanced by Alderman Mark Varshall and seconded by Alderman Mike Coran — includes staff-recommended timing and funding shifts across stormwater, streets, technology, wastewater and park projects, and a successful amendment by Alderman Tompkins (seconded by Alderman Mike Dallas) to remove the Runway 16/34 extension and parallel taxiway from the CIP’s long-term debt schedule so the airport project will be further discussed for alternative funding.

The Council’s action follows staff presentations that outlined dozens of line-items and funding options. Steve Bard, city administrator, told the Council staff had prepared adjustments both to move some projects from “unfunded” to funded using borrowing or room tax dollars and to reallocate existing balances to near-term priorities.

Josh, staff member, presented the stormwater projects, saying the department applied for a DNR planning grant for a stormwater utility feasibility study. “If you recall earlier this year, we applied for a grant for a stormwater feasibility utility feasibility study… It's a 50–50 grant from the DNR,” Josh said. He reported the feasibility study is estimated at about $150,000 and that the Brain Park wet detention basin design/construction is estimated at about $940,000 with a grant award estimate of $150,000; a Mill Creek Business Park pond conversion was estimated at about $1,000,000 with a similar $150,000 grant cap.

Tim, staff member, presented street-division CIP items and said the department proposed continuing annual seal-coat and crack-fill work and an equipment-replacement schedule funded by the city’s internal services fund. Tim summarized a request for a covered “black dirt” shed to store soil, patch material and sand-salt supplies year-round to reduce contractor purchases and material deterioration. He also described a proposed $140,000 consulting phase to assess and plan an electrical-service upgrade for a city building; Tim said the funds would pay for a consultant to document needs and phasing options.

Josh told the Council that several federally funded street reconstruction projects now require real-estate services and temporary limited easements following WisDOT/ STP program requirements. He said the additional appraisals and easement work add roughly $300,000 across four reconstruction projects and will delay at least one project (Fifth Street, Oak to Chestnut) from 2026 to 2027 while the real-estate process proceeds.

Ian, staff member, summarized technology needs, listing a twice-per-decade network penetration test and multiple end-of-life hardware and software replacements. “We have a batch of Cisco networking equipment… they all reach end of life in 2027,” Ian said, noting the largest estimated replacement is about $198,000 for core networking equipment and consultant configuration services. He also said Microsoft Office upgrades and multifunction device replacement are scheduled because existing licenses and hardware will reach end of life.

Mark, staff member, described wastewater CIP items and highlighted two items of note: a Lincoln Lift Station controls and generator upgrade with an estimated $100,000 engineering step in 2026 and a Northeast Lift Station force main that leaked in fall 2023 and will be evaluated beginning next week. “This force main and lift station was installed in 1976… the full report won’t be out for a couple of months,” Mark said. He added that a worst-case replacement for the force main would be expensive — “over $7,000,000” — and staff would pursue a Clean Water Fund loan and DNR incentives if replacement is needed.

Justin, staff member, reviewed parks and fairgrounds changes and outlined a strategy to reduce long-term borrowing by substituting room tax, parkland dedication fees and existing balances for several park projects. He said the Wenzel Family Plaza restroom project has a $210,000 remaining balance staff proposes to repurpose toward a Brain Park pavilion and restrooms; the Greasy Park playground fundraising group is pursuing private donations and aims to raise about $750,000; and several fairgrounds projects were presented at half cost on the CIP pending a new agreement with Wood County and confirmation of county participation.

Jessica, staff member, spoke about election equipment and said the county-level server and security upgrades require all municipalities in Wood County to upgrade simultaneously. She said Wood County Clerk Trent Minor is working with the county board to place full county purchases for new machines into the county’s 2027 CIP so municipalities would not have to pay directly; in the meantime, the city may need to lease backup machines for 2026 to avoid repeat problems.

Jeff, staff member, answered questions about airport fees and reported a quick 2024 comparison with nearby airports: “Wausau, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, they do not. There’s no fees charged there,” he said, adding that Central Wisconsin Airport charges fees because it serves airlines. That exchange led Alderman Tompkins to seek removal of the Runway 16/34 extension from long-term borrowing so the Council could pursue alternative funding or fee-based options.

Votes at a glance

- Amendment (moved by Alderman Tompkins; seconded by Alderman Mike Dallas): Amend CIP to remove the Runway 16/34 extension and parallel taxiway from long-term debt and direct staff to pursue alternative funding options. Outcome: approved. (Recorded vote: Alderman Ian Bridal recorded an aye on the amendment.)

- Main motion (moved by Alderman Mark Varshall; seconded by Alderman Mike Coran): Send the 2026–2030 CIP, as amended, to the Aug. 12 council meeting for final review and approval. Outcome: approved. (Recorded vote: Alderman Ian Bridal recorded a nay on the final vote.)

What this means next

Council members and staff noted the CIP remains a working document. Steve Bard said staff will reconvene with the city’s financial adviser to ensure long-term borrowing plans align with target debt limits and that several projects scheduled after 2027 may need rebalancing in next year’s CIP. The Council scheduled further strategy sessions in September to prioritize projects for 2028–2030.

Financial and permitting notes

Staff noted several funding and permitting constraints affecting timing and scope: DNR planning grants for stormwater studies have application windows and 50–50 matching; federally funded STP projects require real-estate procedures and temporary easements through the state program; the city expects the next five-year wastewater discharge permit (expiring March 31, 2029) to include a disinfection requirement that will require funding and engineering; and a potential Clean Water Fund loan is the likely financing vehicle if the force main needs replacement.

The Council’s approvals commit staff to bring the amended CIP back on the Aug. 12 agenda for final review and to return to the financial adviser to confirm borrowing plans.

(Article verified against Council meeting transcript.)