The Stoughton Common Council voted on several administrative and land-use items, approving a utilities mutual-aid agreement, amending an industrial-park purchase contract and authorizing staff to pursue a separate farmland purchase, while also advancing a wastewater rate adjustment as a first reading.

On R-167-2025, council authorized city officials to join the Wisconsin Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network mutual aid and assistance agreement. A presenter described the pact as a no-cost membership offering reciprocal operational support (for example, during generator or power failures) among participating public utilities. The resolution passed on a voice vote with no opposition recorded.

Council also unanimously approved an amendment to an existing offer to purchase two acres in the industrial park from GIP Glacier Marine LLC under Resolution R-166-2025. The amendment extends the closing date into May and requires the buyer to provide an additional $15,000 in earnest money to keep the contract open while the buyer completes financing. According to staff, the amendment preserves the original development timeline and the city retains options if the purchase does not close.

Separately, council authorized staff to submit a formal offer to purchase approximately 27.8 acres (Williams Drive) from the Mole family for $1,250,000, with limited contingencies (survey, environmental assessment and testing) and a proposed early-February closing. Staff said the city would pay closing costs and negotiate a lease allowing a family member to continue farming the parcel until the city needs it. Council approved proceeding with the offer by voice vote.

On utilities policy, staff presented a first reading of Ordinance 40 of 2025 to adjust 2026 wastewater utility rates. Shannon, utility staff, said the sewer portion of the proposed increase would be 14%, raising the average residential customer bill by about $4.96 per month to support an aggressive capital-replacement plan; the ordinance passed the utilities committee 6–0 and is scheduled for a second reading in December. City staff also presented a proposed amendment to animal and beekeeping licensing to remove the annual renewal requirement so that owners register once and are reinspected only on complaint; that ordinance will return for a later vote.

All formal votes recorded in the meeting transcript were voice votes; the presiding officer announced motions carried with no oppositions reported. The meeting adjourned with holiday greetings.