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Wausau finance committee clears easements, revenue policy change, settlement authority and ordinance cleanup
Summary
The City of Wausau Finance Committee on March 25 approved minutes and a package of finance items including temporary easements for the West Wausau Avenue project, a revenue recognition change for grant reimbursements, delegation of settlement authority up to $75,000, and a housekeeping municipal code amendment.
The City of Wausau Finance Committee on March 25 moved a package of routine finance items, including property easements for a road project, a revenue policy update to recognize certain grant revenues up to 90 days after year‑end, delegation of settlement authority for certain administrative claims, and a minor municipal code cleanup.
The committee approved minutes from the Feb. 25, 2025 meeting on a motion from Alder Gisselman with a second from Alder Henke.
On an item tied to the West Wausau Avenue reconstruction (project described in the packet), the committee approved accepted offers for a series of temporary limited easements covering multiple parcels (project ID 6999‑00‑16; parcel list read on the record) in the vicinity of Wausau West High School. The motion to accept the listed offers carried after a motion from Alder Gisselman and a second from Alder Henke.
The committee separately approved an offering price report and accepted offer for parcel 11 (project ID 6990‑90‑016 West Wausau Avenue; parcel 11200 West Wausau Avenue, Temporary Limited Easement). Alder Hinkie moved and Alder Gisselman seconded; the motion passed.
The committee approved a limited change to the city’s revenue recognition policy allowing city governmental funds to adopt a 90‑day recognition window for grant reimbursements under Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) guidance. Mary Anne (city staff) explained that extending the cutoff from 60 to 90 days better matches reimbursement timing for departments that incur eligible expenses late in the calendar year; Alder Henke moved approval and Alder Gisselman seconded.
On settlement authority, City Attorney Anne Jacobson explained that the proposal would authorize the Board of Public Works to settle civil, administrative or arbitration proceedings involving monetary relief up to $75,000. Jacobson said past administrative settlements are rare; the last comparable administrative settlement was in 2018. The committee approved the delegation (motion from Alder Gisselman, second from Alder Henke). Jacobson noted that any non‑monetary relief included in a settlement would be brought to the Common Council for approval; the $75,000 figure applies to monetary settlement amounts only.
Finally, the committee approved a housekeeping amendment to Wausau Municipal Code section 3.16.0.05 to remove duplicate language and clarify empowerment language related to settlement authority. Alder Henke moved to approve and Alder Gisselman seconded; the motion carried.
All listed items on the finance agenda were approved by the committee during the March 25 meeting. Staff indicated the easements support the West Wausau Avenue reconstruction project and that the revenue recognition change aligns accounting practice with GASB allowances for grant reimbursements.
