Votes at a glance: Mayville Common Council approves budget fixes, sewer rate increase, appointments and multiple routine items

The Mayville Common Council on the evening of Feb. 10 approved a series of routine and substantive actions, including a 2024 budget amendment and carry-forwards for capital projects, a sewer-rate increase for 2025 to meet bond coverage requirements, multiple municipal appointments, purchase and change-order approvals, and a memorandum of understanding with the police union resolving a training-pay grievance.

Why it matters: Several of the approvals update the city's fiscal and operational footing — carrying forward 2024 capital costs (including a ladder truck already taken into possession) and increasing sewer rates so the city can close on revenue bonds with required 110% coverage. The actions also clear routine personnel and procurement items so projects and services can proceed.

Key votes and formal actions

- Consent agenda — Approved (motion by Alderperson Olson; second by Alderperson Smith). Voice vote: ayes; motion carries. Evidence: “Motion made by Olson, seconded by Smith to approve the consent agenda. All in favor, say aye.” (transcript 109.41–119.88).

- Resolution 5964-2025: Employee service recognition awards (2023) — Approved (motion by Alderperson Smith; second by Alderperson Schmitt). Voice vote: ayes; motion carries. Evidence: “Motion by Smith, second by Schmitt. Any discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.” (transcript 365.06–374.16).

- Resolution 05/2025: Employee service recognition awards (2024) — Approved (motion by Alderperson Smith; second by Alderperson Schmid). Voice vote: ayes; motion carries. Evidence: “Motion by Smith, second by Schmid. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.” (transcript 591.12–600.75).

- Check register / approval of bills — Approved (motion by Alderperson Smith; second by Alderperson DeBaker). Voice vote: ayes; motion carries. Evidence: “I'll make a motion to approve the bills. Motion by Smith. I'll second that. Second by DeBaker... All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.” (transcript 1319.45–1335.38).

- Budget amendment & carry-forwards (Resolution amending 2024 budget; includes ladder truck and shelter maintenance carry-forwards) — Approved (motion by Alderperson Smith; second by Alderperson Smith). Voice vote/roll call: ayes; motion carries. Administrator explained transfers among expenditure categories to correct under-budget line items and noted $310,000 in net remaining revenues after adjustments. Evidence: “So what this budget amendment was doing is I within your expenditure categories... I did not get the revenues. So overall, you are under budget by... $310,000.” and roll call: “Alderperson Smith? Aye. Alderperson Schmidt? Aye. Alderperson Olsen? Aye. Alderperson DeBaker? Aye. Motion carries.” (transcript 1846.49–1956.41 and 2018.16–2025.94).

- Appointments to Planning Commission (Resolution 5966) — Approved (motion by unnamed mover; second by DeBaker). Voice vote: ayes; motion carries. The mayor appointed Larry Liedenow to fill a term expiring 04/30/2025. Evidence: Appointment language and confirmation: “the mayor hereby appoints Larry Liedenow... term 04/30/2025... Motioned... All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.” (transcript 2034.60–2086.49).

- Appointment to Police, Fire & EMS Commissions (Resolution 5967) — Approved (motion by Olsen; second by Smith). Voice vote: ayes; motion carries. Mayor appointed Dennis Walston to a term expiring 04/30/2028. Evidence: “the mayor hereby appoints Dennis Walston to serve on the Police and Fire and EMS Commissions... Motion by Olsen... All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.” (transcript 2088.13–2142.05).

- Appointments to Utilities Commission (Resolution 5968) — Approved (motion by Schmitt; second by DeBaker). Voice vote: ayes; motion carries. Appointments included Mike Engel, Jean Frings and Rob Bell as citizen members with staggered terms. Evidence: “the mayor hereby makes the following appointments to serve on the utilities commission... Motion by Schmitt... All in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.” (transcript 2149.79–2261.95).

- Sewer rate increase effective with the February 2025 billing cycle — Approved (motion by Alderperson Smith; second by Alderperson Smith). Roll call recorded ayes from named alderpersons; motion carries. The council approved step 1 of a sewer-rate implementation to ensure 110% debt-service coverage required to close on revenue bonds. Evidence: “the common council... does hereby approve the 2025 sewer rate increase effective for the February utility billing cycle... Take the roll.” (transcript 2280.16–2343.95).

- Operator licenses (three applicants) — Approved (motion by Olson; second by DeBaker). Voice vote: ayes; motion carries. Evidence: “I hear a motion. Motion by Olson. I'll second that. Second by the Baker... All in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.” (transcript 2368.18–2390.13).

- Change order No. 1, Well No. 4 (project closeout; net decrease) — Approved (motion by Olson; second by DeBaker). Roll call/voice: ayes; motion carries. Evidence: “This is just closing out the project and actually it is a decrease. It's a decrease in cost... Motion by Olson... Aye. Motion carries.” (transcript 2390.67–2456.44).

- Ventrac equipment (park department capital purchase, ~ $60,000) — Approved (motion by Smith; second by Olson). Voice vote/roll call: ayes; motion carries. Evidence: “That's that, $60,000 piece of equipment we're gonna... Motion by Smith. Is there a second? Second by Olson... Motion carries.” (transcript 2472.90–2498.44).

- Fundraising authorization for Mabel Cares grandstand project (direction to proceed with fundraising) — Approved (motion to fundraise; second by Alderperson Baker). Voice vote: ayes; motion carries. Evidence: “Is there a motion to go ahead and, fundraise?... I'll second. Second by the banker. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.” (transcript 3024.68–3031.41).

- Lease and generator location at water tower (direction to draft lease and require LP tank conversion to natural gas) — Approved as amended (motion by Alderperson Schmidt; second; friendly amendment to require administrator to pursue lease language and conversion). Voice vote: ayes; motion carries. Council directed the administrator to draft a lease agreement for future use and consider eliminating LP tanks in favor of natural gas or other options. Evidence: “I'll move by that. Motioned by Schmidt... I'll second that... change to be added to the original motion... All in favor, say aye... Motion carries.” (transcript 3308.16–3430.83).

- Memorandum of Understanding (police union appendix re: training-pay grievance) — Approved (motion by Schmitt; second by DeBaker). Voice vote: ayes; motion carries. The MOU specified handling of training time and the paid settlement for officer Mantec. Evidence: “we created a memorandum understanding... In return, we 2.7 hours of regular rate was also paid to, officer Mantec... Motion by Schmitt, second by DeBaker... All those in favor, say aye. Aye.” (transcript 3451.57–3539.13).

Background and clarifications

- Several approvals were described as routine housekeeping (payroll/IT upgrades, employee recognitions) while others had explicit fiscal consequences: the budget amendment reallocated line items and carried forward capital spending for items not completed in 2024 (ladder truck, park shelter maintenance). The administrator said the city remains under budget by about $310,000 after adjustments.

- The sewer-rate action implements the first step staff presented on Jan. 13 and is timed to satisfy bond closing requirements.

Ending

Council adjourned at 7:58 p.m. after completing the evening's agenda and votes.