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Wausau council approves several budget and contracting items, hires new HR director and authorizes equipment purchases
Summary
The council voted on a series of finance and administrative items — including hiring Lisa Nowak as human resources director, purchasing Axon AI redaction tools and approving allocations for fireworks, transit vehicles and water work — and approved multiple resolutions and agreements.
The Wausau Common Council approved a package of finance and administrative items Tuesday that included hiring a new human resources director, authorizing several budget modifications and approving agreements and capital purchases.
Human resources: The council confirmed Lisa Nowak as the City of Wausau human resources director after Nowak introduced herself and described more than a decade of private-sector HR experience and three weeks on the job with the city. The motion to confirm passed 9-1.
Public-safety and technology purchases: The council approved a 2025 budget modification to add an Axon AI redaction assistant tool as an add-on to the police department’s existing Axon services contract (file 24-1109D). The council also approved a chiller replacement at the police department (24-1109F). Both items passed on council votes recorded in committee and on the floor.
Event funding: The council approved a budget modification to fund part of the Independence Day fireworks display, supplementing room-tax marketing funds; councilors said the room-tax commission had funded marketing and the city would provide remaining monies for the fireworks.
Transit and fleet: The council authorized CARES-funded purchases of two paratransit vans, one paratransit shuttle bus and two nonrevenue vehicles for the transit system. The council also approved a resolution allocating $600,000 of 2024 bond proceeds to fund the water portion of a Wisconsin Department of Transportation project on Stewart Avenue.
Personnel: A human-resources resolution authorizing the hiring of part-time officers passed 8-2. Other personnel and procedural items were approved on consent or after committee referral.
Agreements and property: The council approved an access agreement with the former Wasatch Chemical property for access to city land at North River Drive, and accepted a dedication of right of way at 700 Grand Avenue; the access agreement passed 10-0 and the right-of-way acceptance was approved 8-2. The council also considered and denied a taxpayer’s claim of unlawful tax for roads asserted to be private; staff explained the parcels remain taxable until conveyed to the city and recommended denial.
Votes: Multiple items were passed by unanimous or large-majority votes noted in committee and on the floor (several items recorded 10-0 or 8-2 in the transcript); the HR director confirmation passed 9-1 and the part-time officer hires passed 8-2.
What this means: The actions authorize several capital purchases, approve funding for summer events, move forward on transit vehicle acquisition and formalize personnel decisions. Councilors asked staff to track procurement and billing and to report back as projects proceed.
