Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Votes Roundup 2025 09 23 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wausau council votes at a glance: contracts, handbook change, property purchases and airport lease
Summary
The Wausau Common Council on Sept. 23 approved multiple routine and contested items: a solid-waste contract, an employee handbook change, an airport ground lease, the sale of a city lot to a private buyer and a TID-funded property purchase for redevelopment.
At its Sept. 23 meeting, the Wausau Common Council voted on a number of consent and action items, approving several contracts and land transactions and adopting an amendment to the employee handbook.
Summary of actions
- Solid waste and recyclable collection contract (file 9092-1009): Council approved the award of a contract to Harters Fox Valley Disposal Inc. The item, originating from the Public Health and Safety Committee (approved 4-0), passed the full council by roll-call vote 10-0.
- Employee handbook amendment, section 5.15 (file 25-0922): Council approved an amendment to remove up to 50% of the safety boot reimbursement. The motion (moved by Lukens, seconded by Watson) passed on council vote 8-2; the item previously passed committee 3-2.
- Sale of city-owned parcel to Troy Engman (file 25-0914): Approved 9-1 (see separate article). Motion moved by Alder Larson; seconded by Alder Lukens. The sale price stated in council discussion was $3,500; some alderpersons objected that the price did not recoup past city expenditures.
- Purchase of property at 201 North First Avenue (joint economic development/finance resolution, file 25-0926): The council approved the city's offer to purchase the parcel by a 6-4 vote after extended debate about cost, remediation and long-term plans (see separate article for detailed debate). Council discussion cited a purchase price of approximately $900,000 and estimated remediation at roughly $250,000; funding would likely come from the TID (tax incremental district) cash flow with borrowing only if needed.
- Suspension of rules (to process airport lease) and airport ground lease (file 25-0925): Council suspended the rules by the required two-thirds vote and approved an airport ground lease authorizing construction of a hangar for the named lessee; finance and airport committees approved the item and the council vote was 10-0.
Votes and procedural notes
- Consent agenda: Council initially passed the consent agenda with one item pulled; full consent passed 9-1 on initial vote, and the pulled solid waste item later passed 10-0 when voted separately.
- Recording of votes: Where roll-call tallies were given in the transcript, they are recorded above. Individual roll-call names were captured in some instances (for example, individual "aye" responses during roll calls) but the transcript did not record a complete roll-call name list for every motion; tallies below reflect the counts stated in the meeting record.
Items requiring follow-up
- The purchaser of the Troy Engman lot must comply with DNR continuing obligations, including a soil management plan during construction.
- The 201 North First Avenue purchase will require additional budgeting and remediation planning; staff noted potential grant opportunities from WEDC, EPA or DNR to offset cleanup costs and said TID cash flow could cover most or all of the purchase depending on timing.
The council adjourned following public comment and no further substantive items.
