Wausau council approves emergency shelter contract with Bridge Street Mission after hours of debate over nondiscrimination and program limits

Wausau Common Council approved a joint resolution on July 8 to contract with Bridge Street Mission Inc. to provide emergency night-shelter services, passing the motion 8 to 3 after public comment and lengthy discussion about nondiscrimination, program rules and contract length.

The contract, presented as a draft in council packets, passed after a motion from Alder Alden Rasmussen and a second from Alder Larson. Committees had previously recommended the measure: finance committee voted 4–1 and the public health and safety committee voted 4–1 to advance the agreement.

Council members and public speakers said the shelter fills an urgent need; critics warned the nonprofit's religious doctrine could limit employment or access and asked for stronger contract protections. "I think that when we spend public money that is going to be used to employ citizens in this town, we need to respect their rights as workers," said public commenter Jay Kronenwetter, who told the council he had reviewed the draft and raised concerns about employee protections and language on hiring. Kronenwetter said Bridge Street Mission "indicate[s] that they will not hire homosexuals," and urged the council to make funding contingent on explicit nondiscrimination language.

Sev…