Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Thorp council approves $7.4 million sewer bonds, construction payments and hires new public works director
Summary
At its March 10 meeting, the Thorp City Council authorized $7,405,000 in sewer mortgage revenue bonds, approved multiple payments and change orders for the wastewater treatment plant, authorized several engineering contracts for a 2026 street project and hired a new director of public works; the council also accepted the police chief’s resignation and approved interim personnel actions.
The City of Thorp City Council on March 10 approved a package of infrastructure financing, construction payments and personnel moves affecting the city’s wastewater, street and public works programs. The council voted 5-0 to authorize Resolution 2025-03-02, a $7,405,000 sewerage system mortgage revenue bond issuance to fund sewer system needs.
Council members also approved a $7,236.15 pay application to Staab Construction Corporation for the 2023 Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades Project and a $28,377 change order (Resolution 2025-03-03) related to that project. David Walter of Short Elliott Hendrickson reported the wastewater plant is about 98.7% complete and described ongoing punch-list and site-restoration work.
Multiple contracts with Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH) tied to the 2026 Street Project and state funding applications were approved. The council accepted an engineering and bidding contract for the 2026 Street Project ($150,800), contract administration for the SFY26 Safe Drinking Water (SDW) application ($33,750) and the SFY26 Clean Water Fund (CWF) application ($33,000). Council also approved a contract for SEH to support the city-wide lead service line (LSL) application and administration ($30,300); the LSL program as presented includes 35 service-line replacements, with a DNR/SEH loan closing tentatively set for June 25 and individual connections planned to begin in July.
The council approved a street-sweeping agreement with Whirlwind Sweeping for spring sweeping and fall leaf collection totaling $14,700, while leaving mid-summer sweeping (presented as part of an $18,950 estimate) to the discretion of the incoming Director of Public Works.
On personnel matters, the council accepted the resignation of Police Chief Tydon Schneider and authorized posting the chief’s position at a rate of $35–$38 per hour. Council members also raised Brennan Manske’s wage to $26 per hour effective April 1, 2025, and approved posting the Public Works position at $22–$24 per hour; motions on these items passed unanimously. The council voted to allow Schneider to continue working in a part-time capacity until a new chief is hired.
In an action taken after closed session, the council hired Eric Shackleton as Director of Public Works at $32 per hour effective April 5, 2025.
The meeting record shows roll-call or individual-vote detail where specified: the detachment ordinance (Ordinance #2025-03-01) to detach a narrow strip of land owned by Karen Hurd and Kathryn Bartelt and annex it into the Township of Withee passed on a recorded roll call 5–0. The change order approval (Resolution 2025-03-03) passed 4–1 with Alderperson Abramczak recorded voting no. Several other motions, including the bond resolution and SEH contracts, passed unanimously.
Why it matters: the bond authorization and the wastewater project payments keep on schedule the city’s wastewater upgrades and related street and water-service projects while the LSL work addresses state-mandated lead service-line replacement funded through SDW and CWF programs. Personnel changes, including hiring a new Director of Public Works and the pending police chief vacancy, will affect implementation of operational and maintenance work tied to these projects.
The council adjourned at 8:35 p.m.; loan-closing steps for the LSL program remain scheduled for a March 19 review with DNR staff and a tentative loan closing on June 25, with individual LSL connections beginning in July.
