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Barron council approves $442,675 payment to Market & Johnson, rezones and finalizes hires
Summary
At its May 12 meeting the Barron Common Council approved $442,675.77 in contractor payments tied to the LaSalle Phase III utility work, a $79,748.70 payment to Haas Sons and a forcemain change order; it also approved two rezoning requests, a line of credit for LaSalle Phase III, several routine permits and hiring and wage decisions made after closed session.
The Barron Common Council on May 12, 2026 approved contractor payments and a schedule extension for a forcemain contract tied to the LaSalle Phase III utility project, approved two rezoning requests and confirmed hiring and wage decisions after a closed session at City Hall.
MSA representative Teresa Anderson presented project updates and the Utility Commission's payment recommendations. Alderperson Joe Johnston moved to approve Contractor’s Application for Payment No. 8 to Market and Johnson in the amount of $442,675.77; Alderperson Mo Tollman seconded and the council approved the motion unanimously. The council also approved Contractor’s Application for Payment No. 1 to Haas Sons, Inc. for $79,748.70 on a motion by Alderperson Keith Kolpack, seconded by Alderperson Joe Johnston; that motion carried unanimously.
The council approved Change Order No. 3 to Haas Sons, Inc. to extend dates on the forcemain contract after a motion from Alderperson Mo Tollman and a second from Alderperson Kelly Thompson; the motion carried unanimously. Council members did not record additional conditions on the change order in the minutes.
On the consent agenda the council approved two land-use items: a certified survey map requested by Gwendolyn Koehn and two rezoning requests. One request would rezone a parcel in the Town of Barron owned by Gwendolyn Koehn from Agricultural to R-1 Residential; the other would rezone a City parcel owned by Councilmember Joe Johnston from R-1 Residential to R-3 Residential. Alderperson Keith Kolpack moved to approve the consent agenda, Alderperson Mo Tollman seconded, and the motion carried; the minutes record that Alderperson Joe Johnston abstained from that vote.
The council approved a general obligation line of credit with Sterling Bank to provide interim financing for the design stage of the LaSalle Phase III project after a motion by Alderperson Joe Johnston and a second by Alderperson Keith Kolpack; the motion carried unanimously. Council members also approved changes to authorized signers on city accounts at CCF Bank and Sterling Bank, temporary alcohol-service permits for Music in the Park requested by the Barron Chamber of Commerce, a two-hour parking designation on West Maple Avenue, and a street closure on June 10 for the Barron Public Library Summer Reading Program kickoff.
The council convened in closed session at 7:00 p.m. under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel regarding strategy related to dilapidated properties and under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(c) to consider employment and hiring matters for city staff. The roll call vote to enter closed session was 6-0 in favor. The council reconvened in open session at 7:13 p.m. and approved two actions recorded in the minutes: retaining legal counsel regarding dilapidated properties in violation of the Safe and Sanitary Maintenance of Properties ordinance, and hiring- and wage-related approvals discussed in closed session for Clerk/Treasurer Alicia Hilbert and Utility Clerk Sarah Duncan; both motions carried unanimously.
The meeting included routine claims-and-bills approval and several procedural motions that passed without recorded opposition. The council adjourned at 7:22 p.m.
What the council approved at a glance: Market and Johnson payment of $442,675.77; Haas Sons payment of $79,748.70; Change Order No. 3 to extend forcemain contract dates; certified survey map and two rezones (including a parcel owned by Councilmember Joe Johnston); interim financing for LaSalle Phase III via a Sterling Bank line of credit; authorization of legal counsel on dilapidated properties; and hiring/wage approvals for Alicia Hilbert (Clerk/Treasurer) and Sarah Duncan (Utility Clerk).
