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Council approves Banned Books Week proclamation, appointments and library tax exemption; lease escalation moved to CPI
Summary
The Middleton Common Council unanimously approved a proclamation for National Banned Books Week, appointed members to two commissions, approved a lease amendment tying escalation to the CPI, and passed Resolution 2025-46 requesting exemption from the Dane County library tax.
At its Oct. 7 meeting, the Middleton Common Council voted unanimously on several routine and ceremonial items.
Proclamation: The council adopted a proclamation recognizing National Banned Books Week, read by Stephanie Moritz of the Middleton Public Library Board of Trustees, who presented a copy of 1984 and distributed bookmarks listing commonly challenged titles. A council member moved to accept the proclamation and the motion passed by voice vote.
Consent agenda and lease amendment: The council separated consent agenda item 4 for discussion. Finance and personnel sponsors explained a small amendment to a lease agreement that changes a proposed 12.5% rent escalation to an index-based adjustment equal to the Consumer Price Index over the preceding five years. Council members also flagged constituent reports of cellular 'dead zones' (notably involving T-Mobile coverage near the library branch and the university) and asked staff to follow up with carriers to improve emergency connectivity. The amended lease was approved unanimously.
Appointments: The council approved appointments of Lee Schwartz to the Workforce Housing Committee and Lisa Quam to the Tourism Commission; both appointments were approved by voice vote.
Library tax exemption: The council approved Resolution 2025-46, a request that Middleton be exempted from the Dane County library tax for the Middleton Public Library; Alder Crow moved the resolution and it passed unanimously.
Votes at a glance: • Proclamation — National Banned Books Week: moved and passed unanimously. • Consent agenda (items 1–3, 5) — approved unanimously; item 4 (lease amendment) separated, amended to CPI escalation and approved unanimously. • Appointments — Lee Schwartz (Workforce Housing Committee) and Lisa Quam (Tourism Commission): approved unanimously. • Resolution 2025-46 — request for Dane County library tax exemption: approved unanimously.
Next steps: These votes were procedural or ceremonial; the only budget-related direction was authorization to publish a notice for a Nov. 4 public hearing on the recommended 2026 budget, which will proceed to further deliberation.
