Committee moves to closed session to negotiate potential contract with Bridge Street Mission for year‑round shelter

The Wausau Finance Committee on June 24 voted to go into closed session to deliberate and negotiate possible contract terms with Bridge Street Mission to operate a year‑round emergency shelter at 325 North First Avenue, following public comment and extended committee discussion about inclusivity, facility capacity, volunteer and staffing policies, and timeline concerns.

A public speaker, Sandy Kelch, urged the committee not to use public funds for an organization she said "openly discriminates against LGBTQ individuals," and warned about risks of religious coercion. Chief Barnes (Police Chief) described the operational need for shelter services and said the city published two request-for-proposal (RFP) rounds; the first yielded a response that did not meet the requested shelter-service scope and the second yielded a single responsive proposal from Bridge Street Mission. The chief said portions of Bridge Street Mission’s full proposal — including some financial elements — were omitted from the public packet because those items would be negotiable in a contract and staff recommended discussing them in closed session so as not to "handcuff the city in negotiations."

Chief Barnes and proponents described the operational capacity and services Bridge Street Mission proposed: Bridge Street Mission has a large facility with an architect’s diagram in the proposal showing about 8,200 square feet available for build-out; staff contrasted that with Catholic Charities’ roughly 3,000-square-foot facility that provides 30 beds with 10 overflow. Chief Barnes reported that a church basement used for interim shelter recently served 54 individuals on one night. Bridge Street Mission said it would not ask the city to fund the construction of showers and sleeping areas; the proposal envisions using community donations for facility build-out and operating a day center open to all without restrictions.

Committee members pressed staff on non-discrimination assurances for shelter beds, volunteer and staff policies, and whether volunteers would be required to adhere to Bridge Street Mission’s faith-based staffing standards. The chief stated the RFP and any contract would require nondiscrimination for shelter beds and services. Bridge Street Mission’s director described a tiered volunteer system: informal, short-term volunteers (for example, groups serving meals) are not screened for faith or lifestyle, while volunteers with leadership responsibilities or frequent client contact are subject to higher screening and, for those roles, the organization asks for volunteers who align with its faith-based approach.

Committee members also discussed timeline and county partnership: police-run interim shelter operations were planned through Dec. 31, 2025, and members stressed the need for a plan before that date. Staff said the city and Marathon County are working on a strategic plan due in early 2026 and that the city and county have begun financial partnership for current interim shelter operations. The committee debated whether the city should require third‑party assurances about non‑discrimination for staff and volunteers before contracting.

Alder Henke moved to convene a closed session "pursuant to chapter 19, subsection 85, sub. 1(b) of the Wisconsin statutes" to deliberate negotiating the purchase of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business; Alder Tierney seconded. The motion passed on a roll‑call vote with aye votes recorded and the committee moved to closed session. Staff said budget and negotiating items would be discussed in closed session and that, if the committee provided direction, staff would return with a contract for committee and council consideration (staff indicated council action was expected July 9 if negotiations proceeded on the committee’s direction).

Less critical details: Bridge Street Mission stated it operates a men’s transitional recovery program and a planned women’s facility, a commercial kitchen and day-center services; the mission reported 177 volunteers providing more than 10,000 hours last year across services.