Marshfield Common Council Approves Budget Transfer for Fire Truck Repairs and More

Friday, August 11th, 2023 -- 11:00 AM

The Marshfield Common Council discussed a budget transfer for repairs to a City fire truck at their meeting on Tuesday.

The Council also approved a budget transfer of $35,886.98 from the General Fund contingency account to the General Fund fire department repairs and maintenance account for repairs to Fire Truck #1. The ladder truck was damaged on two occasions.

The money was there after the insurance claims were filed, they just didn’t get transferred and was overlooked due to scheduling differences with insurance. The Council also approved a budget resolution increasing the 2023 budget for UWSP-Marshfield capital projects by $1,556.

The approved 2022-2026 Capital Improvement Plan and the 2022 budget included $90,000 for replacement of a 200-ton chiller and $12,000 for sidewalk and parking lot repairs at UWSP-Marshfield Campus.

The total chiller project cost was estimated at $180,000 and as joint owners of the buildings and grounds, Wood County agreed to pay $90,000 toward the project as well. However, in May 2022, the UWSP Facilities Manager advised the City and County that two recent quotes were considerably higher causing UWSP to revisit its plan.

They decided to purchase a 150-ton chiller instead and estimated the total cost to be $210,000. The City passed Budget Resolution 08-2022 for $15,000. The installation was recently completed and the total cost of the chiller is actually $220,330 ($110,358 each for Wood County and the City) which would require an additional budget resolution for $5,358.

However, actual expenditures for the sidewalk and parking lot repairs were $3,802 less than budget and the UW will not ask for further reimbursement for that project. Therefore, the amount of the budget resolution is $1,556.

The approved 2023-2027 Capital Improvement Plan and the 2023 budget included $107,500 for the replacement of HVAC roof top unit 1. This project is now estimated to be less than $100,000. The City borrowed for this project and has excess funds in the account available to cover the shortfall of the chiller project.

The Council also approved a resolution securing a bank loan for certain 2023 capital projects. Most of the city’s capital projects could be done through bonds, but a few, including the taxi vehicle ($26,000 for the city’s portion), police squad cars ($193,000), and city hall boiler ($24,000), could not be covered that way.

So, the city reached out to local banks to receive a loan for the $243,000 needed for those items. The Council approved the loan with Forward Financial for 3 years, first payment due March 1st of 2024, at a rate of 5.65%.

The Council also approved the revised final resolution for the reconstruction project done on Hinman Avenue in 2022 and the reconstruction project being done on Lincoln Avenue this year.

The Council also approved the right-of-way plat for acquisition of property in connection with the Adler Road trail project, reviewed the hiring plan for the Assistant City Administrator/Community Development Director position, but no action was taken, appoint two Council members to the City’s negotiating team for collective bargaining with the police and fire unions, and approved the appointments to the City’s new Housing Committee.

Finally, the Council approved the plan for implementation of the new ordinance that changes the Utility Commission from five members to seven, with the two new members being aldermen from the Council.

The Council also heard an update on TIF District 14 and a school resource officer from the City Administrator. They heard an update on the maintenance of the yard waste site by Waste Management. Waste Management is working to make the site more accessible, however, residents must do better when using the site by making sure garbage and concrete isn’t being thrown into the yard waste site.

They also heard an introduction for new employee Vicky Raab who will be an Administrative Associate II and congratulated Corey Brock in the Street Department for his five years of employment with the City. During the public comment portion of the meeting, a researcher discussed air pollution and how it causes illness in people.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.