Neenah — At the July 16 Common Council meeting, aldermen asked the council to hold a committee of the whole to weigh the pros and cons of new construction versus remodeling the Station 31 firehouse and proposed directing the mayor to pursue an outside comprehensive analysis of Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue. Both directives are to be voted on at the council's Aug. 6 meeting.

Alderman Paulo asked the council to schedule a committee of the whole to review prior studies and the range of options for Station 31. He said two reports — one from 2020 and another from 2023 — contained different recommendations and that the 2023 report presented limited options, including either renovating roughly 14,000 square feet of existing space or building a 17,000-square-foot facility. Paulo contrasted that with Station 36 in Menasha, which when replaced or renovated resulted in a facility of just under 8,000 square feet, and argued the issue should be reconsidered in light of long-term planning.

Separately, Alderman Paul Noe moved to direct Mayor Lang to work with Mayor Hammond and Chief Tisch to hire an outside firm to perform a Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue comprehensive analysis; the motion was seconded and will be placed on the Aug. 6 agenda for a vote. No formal procurement or contract was approved at the July 16 meeting; Mayor Lang noted the city had already sought at least one quote and had begun outreach to firms.

Discussion and context

- Alderman Paulo emphasized that the 2023 study had a narrow set of options and that council deliberations should re-examine facility sizing and long-term strategy for fire services and growth over the next 20 years.
- Alderman Paul Noe said a comprehensive outside analysis was long overdue, noting that the Neenah and Menasha departments merged in 2001 and that a high-level, "50,000-foot view" would help inform capital planning.
- Mayor Lang said the city had already requested at least one quote and was pursuing additional firms; the motion as presented by Noe is intended to bring the council into the process and set a timeline.

What the council did and did not decide

No final decision about Station 31 design or funding was made on July 16. The council recorded two council-directive motions — one requesting a committee of the whole to examine remodeling versus new construction for Station 31, and another to initiate an outside comprehensive analysis of Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue — both to be formally considered and voted on at the Aug. 6 council meeting.

Ending

Council members said they will bring additional materials and options to future meetings; the council will vote on the two directives on Aug. 6.