Durand council approves Madison Street change order, sewer agreement and Pepin County coverage

The Durand City Council on June 24 approved a series of routine and project-specific actions, including a $124,094.75 change order for the Madison Street construction project that the council made contingent on review and approval by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The council voted to approve Change Order #1 for McCabe Construction for the Madison Street project after Matt Roesler moved and LeAnna Kavanaugh seconded the motion. The motion specified that several aspects of the change order require WI DNR review; the roll call recorded four ayes and no nays and the motion carried. The council also approved an Industrial Wastewater User Agreement with the Durand Smokehouse on a separate roll call vote of four ayes and no nays.

Beyond those items, the council approved a Certified Survey Map to combine two lots at 1129 Riverview Drive for Ed and Sally Sabelko, approved consent agenda items including meeting minutes and bartender licenses, and authorized payment of vouchers #31670–#31714 totaling $120,555.97 on a 5–0 roll call.

Police Chief Stan Ridgeway told the council the department is experiencing staffing shortages and presented options to address them, including offering overtime to full-time officers, additional compensation for the chief and engaging the Pepin County Sheriff’s Office for assistance. On a motion by Travis Hooker, seconded by Mark Menke, the council voted to implement an agreement with the Pepin County Sheriff’s Department for coverage; the roll call was recorded as four ayes, zero nays and one abstention (the minutes do not attribute the abstention to a named member). The council directed staff to review schedule changes and compensation incentives and asked Ridgeway to discuss the options with Administrator Tracy Carlson; the council will revisit staffing at its July 8, 2026 meeting.

Mayor Patrick J. Milliren reported that Music in the Park was relocated because of weather, that contractors have kept good communication with nearby businesses and homeowners along the construction corridor, and reminded residents of the July 3 U.S. 250th birthday fireworks celebration. He also reported receipt of an approximately $10,000 grant to reimburse snow removal expenses from the March blizzard and approval of a Wisconsin Department of Revenue Innovation Grant of $27,000 over three years related to fire district consolidation, credited in the minutes to the city administrator’s efforts.

Public Works Director Matt Gilles reported that RBC delivery was delayed, paving on 6th Avenue E is nearly complete, 11th Avenue E paving will be finished soon and the Madison Street construction remains on schedule.

The council adjourned at 7:18 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.