City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everybody. You are at a common council meeting of the city of Wasa. It is Tuesday, May 12th, 2026. It is 6:30 p.m. You are at Wasau City Hall council chambers. I will call the meeting to order. Please join me for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Ask the clerk to call the role, please. There are 11 voting members present. All right. First up tonight, we've got a couple of proclamations in the packet. I'm going to read one uh first here, and this is a proclamation for National Public Works Week. Whereas public works professionals focus on infrastructure, facilities and services that are of vital importance to sustainable and resilient communities and to public health, high quality of life and well-being of the people of Wasau. And whereas it is in the public interest for the citizens, civic leaders and children in Wasau to gain knowledge and maintain an ongoing interest in understanding of the importance of public works and public works programs in their perspective or respective communities. The year and whereas the year 2026 marks the 66th annual National Public Works Week sponsored by the American Public Works Association. Therefore, I, Mayor Doug Deny, do hereby designate the week of May 17th through the 23rd as National Public Works Week in the city of Wasau. And I urge all citizens to pay tribute to our public works professionals, engineers, managers, employees, and to recognize the sust substantial contributions they make in protecting our health, safety, and advancing quality of life for all. Sign Doug Denny, mayor, city of Wasau. And if you remember just a few short weeks ago, we had 31 ines that our public works crews and streets crews cleared out for us. Thank you. And we're filing Memorial Day. Proclamation is in there. It's a

national holiday. By the way, the Memorial Day parade is on Saturday this year, May 23rd, and Memorial Day is the 25th. All right, up next we have proclamation for ALS awareness month and joining us tonight we have Nancy with our ALS support group. We have uh former police and fire commissioner Rick Ryar's wife Kim and family joining us. Um and a few other guests from the support group that will be here to receive the proclamation for ALS. So the proclamation reads whereas amotrophic lateral sclerosis commonly known as ALS or Larri's disease is a progressive neurodeenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord resulting in a gradual loss of muscle control and ultimately impacting a person's ability to move, speak, eat, and breathe. And whereas while ALS can affect individuals of all backgrounds, it is most likely to develop in men and individuals between ages 55 and 75. And research indicates that military veterans are at a greater risk. And whereas there is a is currently no known cure for ALS and continued investment in medical research, compassionate care, support services, and public awareness is essential to improving outcomes and advancing the search for treatments and a cure. And whereas individuals living with ALS along with their families,

caregivers, and health care professionals demonstrate extraordinary courage, resilience, and dedication in the face of immense challenges. And whereas ALS awareness month provides an opportunity to educate the public about ALS, honor those affected by the disease, and encourage community support for all uh for efforts aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals living with ALS. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Mayor Doug Denny, do hereby declare May 2026 as ALS awareness month in the city of Wasau and encourage all residents to join in raising awareness, supporting individuals and families affected by ALS and recognizing the importance of ongoing research and advocacy efforts signed Doug Denny, mayor, city of Wasau, May 12, 2026. And I I might add I Rick was an Army veteran. Uh my friend Denny Cooper Navy veteran. Um it's a rare disease, but we have a lot more in this area than you might be aware of.

Sure. Be happy.

Oh, it's beautiful. Thank you, Mayor Denny and city council for your support and the proclamation. My name is Nancy Meyer Emer and I run the Central Wisconsin ALS support group along with Christy Sharp who could not be with us tonight. I and my brother John and our other brothers lost our brother Patrick to ALS in 2021. Our support group continues to help me through my own loss and has given me strength to fight for an end to this horrible disease. Christy Sharp sent this message. Community awareness matters because no family should face ALS alone. Support from neighbors, local businesses, caregivers, health care teams, and community organizations helps provide connection, resources, advocacy, and hope during an incredible difficult journey. This month, we encourage our community to learn about ALS, support local families affected by the disease, and help amplify the voices of those living with ALS and their caregivers. Compassion, awareness, and community truly make a difference. Thank you, Wasau, for standing with the ALS community. One of our members, K. Schwallenberg, and her husband, Mark, could not be with us tonight, as could many of our other members who cannot easily travel, particularly if there's bad weather or if they're just having a bad day. You only have so many spoons to use during the day and as many people as could made it tonight. Um, K banked her voice before when she could still speak and prepared a special

message for you using her artificial voice. Mark also prepared a photo that the miris kindly said he will show you. This is a photo of our ALS support group that meets monthly at the ADRC in Stevens point pictured in the front row are victims of ALS. They are surrounded by family members and friends who greatly benefit from the mutual support and help that this group provides. Since the picture was taken in March of 2025, we have lost three of the members of our group to ALS. Rick Ryer, Paul Pongrats, and Diane McConnah. Those who have passed are loving spouses, parents, grandparents, friends, and servants of our communities. No one knows why they contracted ALS. No cure exists to prevent or cure ALS. All we know is that ALS slowly took them from us. It is imperative that we continue all efforts to identify the cause of ALS and develop a cure for this insidious disease. Thank you for your awareness and support.

Thank you so much. If you have any questions, we'll be happy to try and answer them.

No, no one else wanted to speak. Thank you all so much. We truly truly appreci Oh, wait. Yeah, Terry. Nancy, I just wanted to say to you and those who came tonight, um, one of our dear friends now has ALS and I just want to give my love to all of you because I know how difficult this is for you and your families and um, thank you for being here tonight. Thank you. Give us a real awareness. Thank you for your support. Take care.

Thank you, Nancy. Okay, no presentations tonight. First item for consideration is uh or item four is consideration of the minutes of preceding meetings and we have two meetings. April 21st, 2026 the org meeting and April 28th, 2026 regular common council meeting. Would entertain a motion from Watson, second from Lucans. Any changes, updates, comments? Seeing none,

you may vote. Motion passes 11 to zero.

Anyone wishing to publicly speak here tonight, registered or not? Nope. All right, we'll move on to the cons. Uh, I'm sorry. We have committee reports. We have the board of public works insurance claims October 2025 through December 2025 and the insurance claims from January 20 26 to March 2026. We'll enter those into the record unless there's any comment. Seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda. Uh, we have one item that we're going to pull on that is uh 01. That's file number 010907, the resolution from plan commission approving the adoption of public participation plan for comp for the comprehensive plan. So we're going to pull that everything else in consent. We'll get to you at the right after consent. Thanks Sam. So looking for a motion to approve the balance of the consent agenda Neil second by Martins and this is everything except 0907.

You may vote. motion passes 10 to one.

All right. Now, we'll take that item that we pulled as first item. It's going to be file number 01 0907. And again, resolution from plan commission approving adoption of the public participation plan for the city of Wasau comprehensive plan. Uh we do have Carrie here from our staff and we also have Sam from county. We did we did hear some comment on this and we're going to potentially recommend a little tweak to that. But I would first entertain a motion uh to accept that plan. Motion from Kellian, second from Slantsky. comments, questions, or Carrie, why don't you set it up set it up for us? Carrie Edmonson.

Good evening, mayor and members of the council. Um, we're really excited to kick off our comprehensive planning process with North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. And so, one of the first steps of that is we do there is a state of Wisconsin requirement that we adopt a public participation plan. we do have a lot of latitude in terms of how we want that to look um what we want included, how we want to approach that. Um, of course, we we really do want a communitydriven plan. I mean, we want a plan that results from solid outreach, um, reaching different stakeholders, community members, people that are engaging in different ways. And so, we do the list, um, it's a couple pages in, it's the bulletointed list. We do have a few different ways that we're planning to do that. So, we have kind of traditional methods like website, social media. We have a survey. Um, we have a meeting in a box, which will be something that someone can pick up or print on their own and do with a group of 8 to 12 people. We have stakeholder interviews that'll be conducted with with key stakeholders in the community. And then we also are going to have have focus groups that are assembled around certain topic areas um where people who are interfacing with housing more economic development or things like that will have an opportunity to communicate. Um so so we do have a variety of methods. I did have a conversation today with Alder Killian who had a couple um suggestions. One being that we offer at the bottom of this document for translation if anyone would like the document translated. Um, another item was under neighborhood groups that we work with the neighborhood contact versus the alder just because they're the ones that are typically running those neighborhood meetings. And and in terms of the survey, I did have a chance to speak with Sam, so he's going to elaborate a little bit on some ideas with that um for more specific

neighborhood um centered engagement. Did I did I miss anything? You did not. You were very thorough. Thank you, Carrie. Yep. Yep. And if anyone has any questions, um, I'd be happy to answer them. And then Sam Wessles here. We're partnering with, um, North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and they'll be doing most of the document writing. Um, but again, we're really seeking a publicly driven planning document at the end.

Thanks. Thank you, Carrie. Uh, Sam Wessel, North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. Um, I just wanted to bring up that we typically start with the basics that state statute requires out of these public participation plans and then in consultation with uh city staff, we really beefed it up much uh to a much higher standard than what the minimum is. So there is a lot in here. Um, and I I think the question was could we collect more data at the neighborhood level versus just citywide? And one idea I have is that in the survey we could put a question in there where people could selfidentify which neighborhood they're coming from. And it's not a requirement because sometimes people don't want to give that away, but those who did, you can then filter out the results and see which answers came from which neighborhood, but you don't give away an individual person's identity. So, that was one idea I had. I don't know if that addressed it or if you had any other thoughts.

No, my my concern was that I think the survey uh and the survey information in the packet just indicated that there would be a 10 to 15 minute presentation and then questions and answers. it didn't elicit any kind of information from the public and so I felt that that would be important and if you feel that um that would suffice then yes so we we haven't developed all the specifics of all the materials yet in terms of you know what questions are going to be asked and that sort of thing but um there will be opportunities in the future to revisit you know the content before it gets pushed out. Okay, thank you.

Thank you. Are there any other questions? Thank you, Sam. Thank you, Alder Killian.

I'll just say briefly that I'm really grateful that Carrie would take the time today because I did have multiple questions and concerns. And I think my primary concern was that the information that was handed out on the public participation plan really stressed inclusivity for everyone. And I didn't understand how that could be so inclusive if it was all in English. And she said they would be happy to put at the end of the plan that it translation would be available if requested. So that satisfied that concern. And my other concern was that the endto-end uh program for neighborhoods isn't always run by an alder. And the plan did say they would contact the alder for um communication and uh it should be the neighborhood contact whether it be an alder or uh a neighborhood representative. So and they are going to resolve that. So thank you. And I I think we can also include some outreach to those uh groups like New Beginnings uh H2N American Center so that that they have the full context of what we're trying to do rather than just translate and distribute. So we'll we'll be able to uh to include more outreach than than minimal outreach. Thank you. All right. has with a motion and a second. Seeing no further comments, you may vote.

Okay. Something like that. Okay, this again

that is the U motion passes 11 to zero. We up next item nine alder requests to call a meeting of the entire council as a committee of the whole. So I would entertain a motion to approve request by Alder Watson and Alder Lukans to schedule a committee of the whole to discuss the city's budget process. Motion from Watson, second from Wilkins.

Comments. We have s Alder Watson.

So, I won't be long-winded. Um, but I I guess I just was hoping that um you guys would sort of relish in this because we've been talking budget numbers, finance a lot, like just even in the first month we've been together. So, um, and it's always bugged me sort of that in our ballot, like our budget book, the budget process, like the number one says that we're going to set the priorities for that following year in March. And I've never done that. I sort of want to do that with you guys. Now, since March has already passed, um, I think it'd be awesome if we could start doing this as a trend like every April or May, you know, after the election, we come and just as a council set our priorities. So, um, I don't know. I guess I have this like really glorious like potential where you know we look at our priorities and then we task our committees with finding stuff that maybe can find some efficiencies or cutting expenses but we really guide that process more than being on the back end in October. So I'm looking forward to having the discussion and I hope you guys will vote for it. Thank you.

Thank you True Blood. Uh, as I understand it, the priorities were established last time at the retreat. Uh, the priorities were reducing taxes, uh, affordable housing and homelessness. That was done at the retreat, at the council retreat. So, um, I'm unsure why that can't be done now. And we have a budget process. The last council meeting, the importance of committees was stressed over and over. And the budget process says that the budget begins in the finance committee. So if we as the council establish the priorities at the retreat and according to ordinance 3.08.010 010 proposed budget. If the finance committee follows our recommendations, then we have that process established and I'm not sure why we need an additional committee meeting. So, I will not support this and I'd encourage others not to.

Thank you. Uh, Alder Slotsky.

Thank you. Um, in the last week, I've had the opportunity to meet with several of the department heads. They've all been great about expla explaining to me what their departments do and um how their budgets work. And all of them said that they could use more guidance as to what they should be looking for. They all want to do what we want them to do, but they need the guidance to come from us. And if uh having a committee of the whole can help us to articulate what our priorities are down to the department heads, I think that that could be very very helpful and so I will be supporting this. Thank you,

Alder Martins. Thank you. uh for one that has uh chaired the finance committee for two years and have shephered the budget process twice now. I think this is actually a really good idea. Um because even though the budget process starts in finance with all of the bits and pieces uh capital improvement and um and and u you know the the the the mayor's budget book that comes to us and then and then going through all of the numbers and whatnot to get a workable solution. I I think there's you know what happens is we get to a point where in in the process that we bring everything to the common council in October and it it feels like um the body is a little bit blindsided um with with everything and um it's it maybe something like this on the head end where we start talking about you know this is this is what we're going to what this is what we want to see. This is how we want you know this this is this is how we want to move forward. These are the constraints that we are up against. Um how can we balance the two um as a as a as a as a body as a whole. Um and then with that sort of gu, you know, with that sort of guidance, the committee can work on the and on on the budget draft to have a product that hopefully doesn't, you know, um it it it it doesn't, you know, either go sideways on us or or or feels like, you know, we're not reaching, you know, what our what our goals are, you know, in in in how to how to effectively um you know, craft

our craft the budget document. So, I I'll be supporting this. Thank you. Uh Alder Wiskowski, just a point of order, can you circle back to me after? I think you skipped me when you went to Alder Martin's. Sure. Uh after everyone who's had a chance to speak once, then we'll come back to the seconds. Sure. So by by rule, Robert's rules, each alder has on per topic can speak up to 10 minutes two times and not be speak twice until after everyone's had a chance to speak once.

I guess I would just want to know if that's past practice. I'm I'm great with that. But going forward, consistency, I would say it hasn't been a past practice, but it is best practice. I know. Uh let's see. Alder Wascowski.

Okay. Yeah. Um so similarly, I had the chance to go around and talk to lots of different departments over the last two weeks. Um and I think this is a great idea. um if for only like the priorities yeartoyear largely similarly look the same. I mean reducing taxes whether or not it's possible or not is always a goal. Um and that seems to carry over year on year. Um I think it's important when we're talking about priorities to sort of articulate them into goals um like achievable goals and not just large concepts. Um, and I think it's a good point if if we do do this, I think it'd be a good time to sort of look at not just one year into the future, but possibly up to 10 years into the future because it sounds like there's some very big projects that are looming on the horizon that we might be pushing down the road all the time, but are constantly coming closer and closer to us. So, I think it's an opportunity to set like a near vision, but also a a long-term vision. So, I'm in favor Thank you, Alder Tierney.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I I think this is a good idea. Um, for several years, we have been given the information about budgets a few weeks before we get the the book and then you just don't have substantial time to really dive into it and get all the information. And there really hasn't been any direction by the finance committee. Um they sit with the mayor, they kind of put some stuff in front of him, it's putting down in a book and given to us. And um I have said a couple of times that instead of constant cuts, which is what we always look at is cutting this, cutting that, trying to save this, trying to save that, we need to look at ways of bringing in revenue. We need to look at our fees. what we're charging surrounding communities to use our fees. I mean, we're paying this property taxes on them. We should look at what we're charging to pay uh to them. Uh we should look at what other successful communities are doing, FondeLac, Appleton, Green Bay Area to keep their communities in a better financial state than ours is. So um I think yes we need to look at what are we have our five-year plan coming up and what is important there what should be prioritized but we also have to look at ways of uh different ways of doing the finances like I mean ways to generate income really need to be looked at instead of just cuts. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Neil.

Thank you. Well, um this current term is my first on finance ever. Um but for 10 years prior, um I've seen a lot of uh work by the finance committee building budgets. uh and I've understood and appreciated the laborious process that they've undertaken year after year uh to build a very sizable document for us all to look at. Um I uh you candidly, you know, in previous years I was glad I wasn't there all the time because it would have probably killed me. But um I think that people that have been on that committee uh probably have insights that would they could bring to our uh committee of the whole uh to uh offer ways to make that process more effective, maybe more streamlined, I don't know, but uh uh more involving us on an ongoing way so we're not just hit with that big book in the fall. U so I I definitely appreciate this idea and I support it. Thank you, Alder Heni.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, speaking in line with um the alder person from District 9, I just wanted to make mention of the fact that I I've yet to see, I guess, a hear this evening um substantial reason to to do this outside of um you know, outside of changing the process from what it's been. and and as the alder person from district 4 just mentioned um being handed a packet, right? Something something overwhelming to look through and and consider. Um I have my concerns about the finances of the city as I think many of our residents do. Um we obviously had a resolution just passed uh to ask for additional tax dollars um because we weren't spending within our limits. um that passed with less than a hundred votes. Um when we had originally had a plan to finance that by closing a tiff district and then reneged on that plan. Um my biggest concern right now and I do agree with the alder person from district 9 um in terms of wanting to look at ways to expand our tax base. I am very afraid of the idea of of adding fees or increasing fees to certain things because you're really just forcing an unseen tax on people um for using services that the city that the city is already providing. Um, one of the things that I think we all ought to keep in mind, especially as we go into this potential opportunity to have a council of the whole for a budgeting uh meeting, um, is to consider the idea of what households in this city have to do with their own budgets and whether or not they can continue to borrow and go further into debt as a sustainable way to lead their household. We compared to that in contrast to that are managing

the finances that are raised from 40,000 residents. We have a greater obligation than any one business or household considering the fact that the decisions that we are making are impacting the finances of every single household in the city. Um, so I I definitely am in favor of the idea of us being a little bit more um having a little bit more oversight on the budget and making sure that we are very careful about the dollars that we're spending. Um, but I'm skeptical of the idea that a meeting is going to take an organization, a group that again, as the older person from district 11 mentioned, has prioritize lowering taxes, affordability, it's a buzz word we hear every other day, and um homelessness. If we want to actively and and tangibly affect those issues, then we have to take actual tangible action on those issues. Um, and I'm I'm just skeptical that a meeting um that an additional meeting is going to change the trajectory that this uh that the city government has had um in honestly the last decade. Um we're in a position now where financially I don't think if our residents again we have a few here this evening but many who don't follow uh what's happening. One of the issues that I took uh issue with is the fact that we have as many items go to consent agenda, but I'm not going to go on a tangent here. Um I think our constituents um are a little a little disturbed by the fact that we uh negligently manage our finances in a way that a household could not afford to. So um I'm not in favor of meeting. Um, I'm not sure that it's going to address the

issues that I've uh outlined. Um, but I hope everybody can keep that in mind should we should we decide to meet. Thank you, Alder Lukans.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um well I um my main goal um and I set this you know during the campaigns I guess as I was thinking about running again. My main goal is um trying to find ways to raise revenue and I appreciate um Alder Tierney. I'm right in line with that. Um, I also really appreciate what Alder Neil said that perhaps some of us that have served on finance in the past in the past um this would allow us to participate in a discussion because um you know I hopefully I I guess I'm I'm um you know it's I I just think it's it's really easy to criticize things until you've gone through the process and see that there's really not there's not a lot of places to cut or there haven't been. I've watched all the meetings or attended them in the past. So, if someone else has some ideas where you think, you know, you can do that without cutting services that people are going to be really upset about, that's great. So, um, but you know, and as far as our council retreat, that's not a budget meeting. That's not a budget meeting. And so, we have I feel like we made great strides with as far as um the homelessness issue. I mean, that's still an issue and it will be, but I I'm pretty proud of the work that was done um in the last term. So, I don't think it I personally don't look at everything as doom and gloom

completely because I think that um we have done some meaningful work and I appreciate that. So, anyway, I think this is a great idea to be proactive. I think it's a great opportunity to be very transparent um to have all of us here and anytime I think that we can all discuss something with you know out without excluding you know others if we have this opportunity with something so um important as a budget great so I'm really excited for it um I will be of course voting for this and really it was Alder Watson who really spearheaded this and so thank you for being on top of this and really looking forward to get these conversations going ahead of time. Thank you.

Thank you Alder Killian. First of all, um I was really excited when our council passed a rule that two alders could request a committee of the whole because in my opinion, if two people on our council think something is important enough to ask everyone to do that, I think it's something that should be respected and I would never vote against anybody requesting a committee of the whole. I do want to say that the agenda for the council retreat was published today and we do as a group have the opportunity to discuss our feelings and our goals about the budget. Um I will certainly support um the request for a committee of the whole. Uh I would like us to see uh to wait on a date for that because at our council retreat we will have those opportunities and um I think it's important to see after the retreat whether or not we feel it's still essential because I think in the packet most of the things that you're talking about were uh provided in the packet. So I will support your request for a committee of the whole. I do respect that. Uh I think we might want to wait on a date to set. That would be my only concern.

Thank you.

Well, to that point, we're going to rely heavily on uh finance director Gro who will have to support this uh meeting. So I I would take would like to get input from her as to when she could have that prepared. So, we'll if she's on, she can speak. All right, we're back to the We've got two in the Has anyone who's has not spoken desired a chance to speak? All right, Alder. And where this came up, I'm sorry, the genesis of this was that the org meeting we had like 20 people in the queue. there were multiple people and it it so I I just stumbled on to the to that rule within Robert's rules and we have used it in the past to uh to keep give everybody an opportunity so apologize for that. Alder Watson

so I I guess after um Bruce you you mentioned some of the the I guess your concerns about it and the council retreat. I did look at the agenda like right before finance and I was like this is an amazing agenda and I think a lot of that work we could do like I was hoping we could maybe do some of that budget work but I guess I also wonder retreats um like transparency wise this is my question are they recorded can people attend I know we're getting fed which is yum I'm excited but that's the reason why I like the cow um idea is because people can come and talk and engage whereas I guess I saw the retreat as more of a like an individual meeting kind of thing between alders. So I guess that's why I preferred the cow. But if we can have that transparency and that you know involvement at the council retreat at two, I mean we can probably hit two two birds with one stone, but I still would like to have a discussion. So that's my question. How transparent are we for the retreat?

Sure. So take that as a question. I let alian answer that. Mr. Mayor, may I respond?

Yes. Um Sarah, the reason um I'm thinking that we can do that is when I became council president, as you know, I'm much newer on the council than many of you and I had apprehensions about doing things the right way. I have looked into the open meetings laws and I have looked into council retreats from multiple cities and our open meetings laws, not just the laws but the spirit of the law says that our council retreats should be available easily accessible to the public. So I moved them upstairs into the council chamber. Our retreat dinner is going to be a time for the alders to talk independently. There aren't going to be speakers there. There aren't going to be anything. There's going to be a camera. And my goal with that was how much public input have we had on Facebook and everywhere saying our council is dysfunctional. All our council does is attack each other. I felt that this public access, watching our individual members meeting and talking without discussing city business, would be a prime time for our public to see that we are people who care about each other and we are just here to represent them the best way each of us can. As far as discussions uh on the council regarding budget um that that will be on speaker and that is available to the public and there will be public comment at our meeting. It's going to be much different than a

council retreat has been in the past. It's going to be much more publicly accessible. I'm not anticipating that a ton of public is going to come to the council retreat. I just have that gut feeling. But I thought it was up to us as a city council to welcome them, welcome their comments, and to have this as publicly accessible as possible. So, I think all of those things can be accomplished that you want to accomplish. I'm not sure. As I said, I will certainly support your council, your council committee of the whole if you want one. But I think what might be important is seeing what we can accomplish at our retreat and then deciding if we haven't done that, set a date for the budget committee of the whole. That would be my comment.

Thank you for answering that question. And I just had a followup. Um, I think the reason why I still prefer a cow, um, is there's lots of revenue options that we could explore that we haven't really been discussing as publicly like the storm water utility. Um, I know I've got a presentation. I always look at Eric because I swear it was that water commission when we got the storm water utility presentation, but like the entire council should have that. We should be looking at that as an option, right? Um, we should be like seeing all these other different like Maryann should give us some other revenue options. she's she's like asking us to diversify, right? So, I mean, but I I don't think that's something we can maybe cover at the council retreat. It might need a little bit more time, right? So, that's that's why I'm sort of still advocating for the cow. And I I appreciate what Alder Killian was saying. It's like maybe we can set the time after our retreat and see what we accomplish and then go from there. But, I would really still like your support. So, thank you. And I think the c the retreat, which by the way is a is actually a committee of the whole, but I hope hopefully it will help inform the the budget session as you if we move forward with that as well. Um, now I'm going to have to parse this. There's several who came in here to I think Mr. True Blood, you're up next.

Um, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, one of the things I kept hearing repeatedly and I totally agree with is the process of the budget needs addressed. I think that there it does come as a big uh I hope you have time to read this at the last moment discussion but that is something that could there's nothing that prevents the finance committee from putting that together putting together a longer plan that may be something that could be discussed in June or early July how that can and I think that's a great example of how a cow could and I I love the idea of developing further um strategies. It's the we just went through the whole discussion about the committees with the emphasis that we have to send everything before a committee. This didn't go through the committee. We didn't get our statistics. We didn't get our evaluations. We didn't get our reports from the staff. And now suddenly we want to establish another committee. So it seems out of order. I'm all for letting the process and having gone back and watched ha hours of of recordings of council meetings of committee meetings having spoken with every available former alderman in my district that I could speak with. There is a process and the city works best when we work the process. things get wonky when we just throw in these um carts before the horses. So, I'm not opposed per se to a committee of the whole. I think the retreat should happen first and then I think the finance committee should have their first swing at it as it were and then I think it would be a good time for a committee of the whole to say okay or have them bring

their questions to us. I'm the finance committee and I also have spoken to many uh directors and uh leaders of departments and I agree they all want guidance but where do they want that guidance? How do they want that guidance? Who's collecting those questions? So are we just going to all get in a room and do the same thing we're doing here? So I think there are I I'm not opposed to the concept. It's the timing and the methodology that I'm opposed to. Thank you. And in deference to to staff, the staff staff directors are working on their budgets for 2027 right now. Is that a true statement? See some head nodding back there from the chief. So staff does have tremendous input into the budget. So let's not uh let's not discount them. All right. Andrew Scowski.

Yeah. I just want to make a point that um uh wrapping something like this up into a retreat that's next week is really last minute and I at least I'm not going to be at the retreat because I booked travel 4 months ago when gas prices for airplanes were lower. Um and I would really appreciate being at a meeting like this whenever it happens if it's in two weeks or four weeks. Um, so I just feel like scheduling something like this requires more weeks of planning than just let's roll it into a retreat that we've got going on and maybe we'll see pick up the bits that don't get covered in the retreat later on personally. So just to answer that briefly, it's it's a portion of the retreat part of the budget book. If you've if you've looked at the budget book, it has embedded in it the strategic plan the five points. So, so the initiative as Alder Killian presented was to look at that strategic plan that's really been kind of sitting there since 2022 and see if it still aligns because that will drive the some of the budget items and so maybe maybe those items potentially get adjusted and then inform the uh the next that committee if we do have one of those.

Sure. I just mean saying we're going to cover a lot of it next week is not great. You know, I I'd appreciate more notice than that. And also, I just want to be present when it happens and or at least have the opportunity to change my calendar. Uh this one wasn't changeable, but

but not put words in Alder Killian's mouth, but we this is strategic. So, anything deeper than that would would not we wouldn't get there. We'd be talking priorities, not not specific process on uh procedures and who does what when. All right. Uh let's see. I think Alder Lukans, were you next second? Okay.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I appreciate hearing the concerns about it and um, you know, because this council has not been through it before, I can understand you know that. Um I guess um I too would prefer I think it's a lot like okay for the retreat the strategic plan looking at that is one thing and I can see doing that but if it if it starts at 6 and um I know what has happened in the past when we have a meeting and then a close session it hasn't always been pretty. So if we have a 30 minute informal reception that's 6:30 you know if there are any public comments then presentations Robert's rules open meetings open records that's going to take a while and then discussions on the strategic plan. So I I guess you know what I was envisioning is more about the actual budget like uh Alder Watson had said and like like I had mentioned you know about maybe some ideas about revenue and things like that. It's not getting into the nitty-gritty of the entire budget but I think I don't want to be here until 10:00 that night. You know I have to get up early for school. I think other people do. So, I think I can I appreciate too the all of the thought that went into the retreat. Um, and I can understand looking at the strategic priorities, but I guess I would prefer um a separate committee the whole to discuss more about the budget per se. And I think, you know, it will be the finance committee discussing this, but I still appreciate I would appreciate all of us being able to discuss some of these things in one meeting and the committee

the whole I guess I think of it as part of the process because the it is for discussing some things that you know that are are priorities that we don't necessarily we don't get to do otherwise. So, um, and it's it's not a separate I mean it's a committee of the whole, but it's not like a separate committee that meets regularly. So, I you know, hopefully that would help that it's a one, you know, one kind of a one time thing. Um, so anyway, uh I do I really would like that um to be separate um a more a deeper discussion of the budget to be done at a committee of the whole. Thank you. Alder Killian, would you want to comment on it? I I don't plan on being here till 10:30 at night.

I just I just wanted to say um the reason there is that kind of specificity in the agenda for the council retreat is that if you look back at our agendas uh from the past council retreats, everything has been very general. It just says discuss this, discuss that. open meetings laws I believe like a bit more specificity and I did have this under review by our city attorney's office and we will I mean the reason that's there is so that we have the right opportunity to discuss the things we want to discuss and not just have a broad concept and then start picking topics that we're going to talk about. I guarantee you that everything that is on that agenda has been on past agendas except the public access and the public comment. Talk dining together was there. Uh the topics that we have are there just allowing us to be more we had to be more specific to comply in my opinion with open meetings laws. There's the last topic of alders are able to discuss concerns other than the strategic plan. And that's because alders like to talk about what their community has presented to them as concerns, what their neighborhood groups and their constituents have presented. Our agenda should not take us any longer than any other council retreat. Um, and I'm not anticipating we'll be there uh for a time that will keep you from going to bed at night. So, um, that's my explanation. Thank you.

Thank you, Alder Larson.

Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Well, I sat back and listened to a lot of good stuff tonight and I I guess uh a lot of it I have to agree with and some I I don't agree agree with, but I I'm going to vote to support this uh uh because of the fact of what was said. I mean, if if we can get some new ideas out there, that's fine. But um I'm not so sure we've had a process that has worked for us when it comes to finances and a budget for for so many years. Um I'm not real anxious to to change things until I see some data in front of me. Um and I am going to support this only because of what Alder President Gillian said. uh you know the fact that two alders called for this meeting and I'm going to honor that. So thank you.

Okay. Seeing none you know what I should finance director Gro is listening. Let me Yeah.

Uh Director Gro did you if you heard any of those comments would you have anything to to add to this? Oh, I think you know obviously um I think the whole purpose of a budget is to match resources to the goals of the community. So having open discussions about um what our community's goals are is awesome. Um I think you know the challenge that we have experienced in the past is um you know without this revenue diversification we really do rely heavily on property taxes um as a result of that and so I think you know that that is um a major issue that the city is struggling with. Obviously expenses are not going down, you know, and we can put some historical information. Obviously, payroll is a huge portion of our budget. Those expenses are going up and maintaining our assets, infrastructure. Uh the cost of uh street construction has gone up um significantly since COVID and it really has not fallen back down at all. So keeping up with that maintenance is a difficult uh situation too. Um and uh you know we are here and available to help you with whatever information that you need from a timing perspective. There was a lot of discussion about that. Um, we are right now working really hard to try to get our annual report to the state out which is due May 15th. And then the auditors, we have brand new auditors this year that starts next week. And then we also have our PSC

report that's due. So this the rest of this month uh is a busy time for us in finance. And not to get out my violin, but we we have had some challenges from a staffing resource. Uh I don't know I if people know I had an accident uh the end of April and ended up in the hospital. I now have recovering from 11 pins and two plates in my right leg. Um, so that's put us back a bit because I was in the hospital nine days. We obviously have our city clerk vacancy and we do are maintaining a accountant FTE vacancy due to some of the costsaving measures that we implemented last year in the budget to try to control payroll. Um, so, uh, I think setting that for a mid June, uh, I'm hoping to be able to be back in the office at least part-time. Um, probably mid June. I am, you know, working from home and watching my emails and so, you know, again, people can re feel free to reach out uh to me. Um, but yeah, I I understand the frustrations of wanting to do more with less. That's a tall order though. So, we always have to pick some, you know, something has to go then because I do think all of the departments do try to work hard uh to get those efficiencies. So, I guess I didn't mean to take too much time. That's all I have. No, thank good good perspective and that gives us a little bit of a time frame where where finance could get this in

order for us. Okay, seeing nothing no further comments. You may vote.

That motion passes 9 to2. All right. Up next item 10 under ordinances and resolutions we have file 26-08 resolution from public health and safety committee approving or denying various licens as indicated. Would entertain a motion from Watson, second from Larson? Any comments? Seeing no comments,

you may vote. Motion passes 11 to zero. Next item is file 26-0502 confirming appointments of the mayor of the city of Wasau to the historic preservation commission, Wasau Waterworks Commission, Room Tax Commission, Capital Improvements Project Commission, uh building advisory board, citizens advisory committee, airport committee, and police and fire commission. And believe it or not, after last weekend, this and last meeting and this week, we still have some openings. So tell your friends and relatives, sign up for committees if you would like. I would entertain a motion on those. Mr. True Blood Sli,

you may vote. Sorry, I just I had a question really quick. I just wanted to clarify, Mr. Heni. There was an Aaron von Craig, but the Cray is spelled differently in the two instances that it's on there. Is that the same person? Oh, I see that. Uh, I would assume it is, but it is the same person confirming. Okay, thank you. And I don't know if m Michelle is watching, but Michelle, it's Michelle's husband. He put that she put that in there. So, we'll get that corrected whichever way it is. It's with an E. I believe. All right. Uh, that motion passes 11 to zero.

All right. Up next, announcements from the mayor and older persons. I just have one a bit of housekeeping and then that is uh for the transit com commission. Uh, it requires that the uh that the mayor appoints the chair. So, I've transmitted uh to uh to Alder Slonsky to be the chair of transit commission replacing Becky Mhaney. And then likewise on infrastructure, Alder Slansky will be uh joining infrastructure. And I'll I can recommunicate the U committee assignments. There was one swap of a of a committee there on infrastructure. We had uh we had Alder Tierney down for four committees and that wasn't fair. So spread that out a little bit. And I I can I can you want to distribute these right now Cody while we pass them out? Oops. Any alders with any comments? I should say comments announcements. All right. Any citizens with comments or suggestions? Okay. I would entertain a motion. Oh, wait a minute. Sorry. I have a citizen. all this talk about staying up late. This is National Police Week and on Wednesday night at midnight for the third or fourth year in a row, we have a bag piper that comes to recognize the sacrifices made by police officers. He plays Amazing Grace twice while he marches through the entire 400 block. At midnight, there's going to be a bunch of police officers there. You're all

invited to set your alarms, get out of bed, come down, hear some bag piping, and then go back to bed. Thank you. Thank you. See you there. All right. Back to the motion to agenda. Watson second Lucans. All in favor? See you later, everybody. Meetings adjourned.