Wausau finance committee approves lead-service transfer, parking-lot work and housing grants; economic development committee moves to closed session

The City of Wausau Finance Committee voted July 22 to approve several budget modifications and grant acceptances and then joined the Economic Development Committee, which voted to go into closed session to discuss potential property purchases.

On a finance-item vote, the committee approved a resolution transferring $150,000 from the general fund to the capital projects fund to cover a shortfall tied to 2024 lead service line replacements. Mary Anne (staff member) said negotiations with the state left some homeowner-side costs ineligible for Safe Drinking Water loan or grant funding, requiring use of general-fund reserves for the one-time shortfall. Alder Henke moved the budget transfer; Alder Kisselman seconded. The motion carried by voice vote.

The committee also approved a TID 3-funded budget modification to construct two parking lots linked to a developer agreement with the Woodchucks organization. Andrew Lynch (staff member) described the lots as follows: the “players lot” at Boilera Field (a currently gravel lot used by baseball players) and a second lot east of the field on land donated after a house fire at 508 East Wausau Avenue. The packet included cost estimates; the committee voted to bid and construct the two lots this year and fund them from TID 3. Alder Henke moved approval; Alder Tierney seconded. The motion carried by voice vote.

The committee accepted a housing-counseling capacity-building grant offered by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). Tammy Strats (staff member) said the city is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency with one certified counselor and is receiving referrals from across a roughly 100-mile area. The two-year WHEDA grant would fund training and certification for partner nonprofit staff (not agency certification), support staff time and the reporting computer system, and expand language/access supports; the Hmong American Center has expressed interest in hosting a bilingual counselor. Alder Henke moved to accept the WHEDA grant; Alder Tierney seconded and the motion carried.

Separately, the committee approved continuing to accept Lead Safe Homes Program (LSHP) funds from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Strats said the program has allowed lead-abatement assistance for 22 housing units to date, with four more in the pipeline, and that the city has received LSHP funding since 2019. Alder Tierney moved to authorize ongoing acceptance of LSHP funds; Alder McElhinney seconded, and the motion carried.

After the finance-only items, the Economic Development Committee convened. Members voted to enter closed session under Wisconsin Statutes chapter 19.85(1)(e) to deliberate the purchase of public properties at 201 North First Avenue and 901 and 1021 Cherry Street. Alder Henke moved to go into closed session; Alder Tierney seconded. The finance committee roll call recorded McElhinney, Tierney and the presiding member voting aye; the economic development committee completed a similar roll call and moved into closed session. The meeting record shows no substantive open discussion of the property purchases before adjournment to closed session.

All actions on the July 22 consent items were carried by committee voice votes or roll calls as recorded; items will be forwarded to the Common Council or handled administratively as appropriate.