Wausau finance committee approves sewer bond, partnership amendment and TID plan changes; moves to closed session

The Wausau Finance Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, voted to authorize a series of municipal actions that officials said will support utility capital work and planned redevelopment projects.

Committee members voted to authorize the issuance and sale of up to $922,476 in sewer system revenue bonds, approved a first amendment to a master partnership agreement with Community Infrastructure Infrastructure Partners, LLC, and approved project-plan amendments for multiple tax increment districts (TID), each with specified exceptions. After those votes the committee approved a motion to move into closed session under Wisconsin law to discuss appraisal and offering-price information for a property along West Wausau Avenue.

Why it matters: The bond and TID amendments are intended to create or preserve funding streams for utility and downtown infrastructure projects included in the 2025 budget. Committee members repeatedly emphasized the trade-offs between tapping TID increment, using utility revenue, and the prospect of future water-rate increases if capital costs are shifted onto ratepayers.

Key votes and formal actions

Votes at a glance

- Minutes of the Jan. 14, 2025, meeting—motion to approve by Alder Gisselman, second by Alder Henke; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Authorization to issue and sell up to $922,476 Sewer System Revenue Bond Series 2025—motion to approve by Alder Gisselman, second by Alder Henke; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Approval of the first amendment to the master partnership agreement with Community Infrastructure Infrastructure Partners, LLC—motion to approve by Alder Henke, second (recorded in transcript as “second from attorney”); outcome: approved (voice vote); recorded tally: 1 no (Alder Gisselman), remainder in favor.

- Tax Increment District (TID) No. 3 project plan amendment—motion to approve the plan with removal of McIndoe Street parking improvements (Fourth to Franklin; $238,000) and removal of lead service line replacements scheduled for 2026; motion made by a committee member, seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- TID No. 8 project plan amendment (addition of MBX property)—motion to approve with the exclusion of lead service line replacements for 2026; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- TID No. 7 (donor district to TID 12) — motion to extend donor status for one additional year (2026 increment only); motion made by Alder Henke, seconded by Alder Gisselman; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Motion to go into closed session under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(e) to deliberate or negotiate purchase of public property and related appraisal/offering price matters (Parcel on West Wausau Avenue, Project ID 6999-00-16) — motion by Alder Henke, second by Alder Gisselman; outcome: approved on roll-call vote (Miss McElhinney: aye; Gisselman: aye; Tierney: aye; Henke: aye; committee chair: aye).

What the votes do (details)

- Sewer bond: Committee authorized the sale of up to $922,476 in revenue bonds for sewer system work tied to the 2025 utility capital program. Staff said the bonds support the utility projects included in the 2025 budget.

- Partnership amendment: The committee approved a first amendment to the master partnership agreement with Community Infrastructure Infrastructure Partners, LLC; the amendment had been discussed at the prior meeting and was brought back after members requested the amended agreement be provided in the packet. The motion passed with one recorded no vote.

- TID project-plan amendments: For TID 3, the amendment adds underground water and sewer components and other projects included in the 2025 budget (Fulton Street, First Street, River Drive, portions of McIndoe/Macondoe, demolition of the water plant, parking-ramp work, and other items). The committee approved placing most projects into the plan but removed parking improvements on McIndoe Street (Fourth to Franklin, $238,000) and removed lead-service-line replacement scheduled for 2026 from the plan for now. For TID 8 the MBX property purchase was added to the plan but the committee excluded lead-service-line replacements for 2026 from the project plan amendment.

- TID 7 donor status: The committee authorized extending TID 7 as a donor district to TID 12 for one more year (adding the 2026 increment as a donation). Staff analysis presented to the committee showed a one-year donation would markedly improve cash-flow projections for TID 12; staff also presented alternatives including a two-year donation or termination.

- Closed session: The committee voted to go into closed session under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(e) to deliberate or negotiate the purchase of public property and related appraisal and offering-price matters for Parcel 11200 West Wausau Avenue (Project ID 6999-00-16).

Who spoke and procedural notes

Committee discussion and votes were led by the committee chair (unnamed in the public transcript). Multiple alderpersons participated: Alder Gisselman, Alder Henke, Alder McElhinney, Alder Tierney and Alder Kearney. Staff members identified themselves as Eric and Mary Anne; Brian Romer of Ehlers participated as an outside municipal finance consultant. Several motions were made, seconded and decided by voice vote; the closed-session motion was decided by roll call as required by state law.

Next steps

Approved plan amendments must follow the public-notice and review schedule required under state law (plan commission public hearing, joint review board meetings, council consideration). If the city proceeds with construction contracts that were out for bid, staff said it will be important to clarify the funding mechanism (TID vs. utility revenue vs. general obligation borrowing) before signing contracts.

Ending note

Committee members stressed the tension between capturing principal forgiveness and grant funding available now and the distribution of future costs among ratepayers, TID increment and general-obligation debt. Multiple members asked staff to return with more detail on lead service-line counts and estimated costs before any future commitment for 2026 work.