Marshfield Common Council Continues Discussion on Wenzel Family Plaza Bathrooms

Wednesday, June 12th, 2024 -- 10:00 AM

The Marshfield Common Council continued the discussion about bathrooms at the Wenzel Family Plaza at their meeting Tuesday.

Even though the Council approved moving forward with the project at a recent meeting, an alderman used a procedure to bring the item back for more discussion based on new information received.

The Council has been discussing this item for some time. It was included in the Capitol Improvement Project and was even brought forward when the need for bathrooms on the Plaza became apparent.

However, since then, many citizens and council members have balked at the proposed location of the bathroom and the cost, which has a budget of $250,000 for a two stall bathroom.

It has been stated that, even with the bathrooms, porta potties would still be needed. There have been discussions since then that, with the selling of a nearby building, they’d be willing to rent out space for bathrooms and a greenroom for bands performing on the plaza.

Some council members even felt that some discussions on the bathrooms are being withheld. In the end, the Council didn’t take any action on Tuesday. So, the project will move forward with bids being opened today (Wednesday, June 12th).

However, the City Administrator did state that after the bids are opened, the Council could choose to continue moving forward with the project or they could put it on hold for the time being or even scrap the project all together.

The Board also heard a presentation on the City’s 2024 borrowing for Capital Improvement Projects. The Council approved the sale of approximately $9,050,000 of General Obligation Promissory Notes for the projects.

It would be a 20-year term and the projects include street improvement projects, parks and public grounds projects, stormwater projects, UW System college campus projects, TID 13 infrastructure projects and the acquisition of vehicles and equipment.

The Board also had the first reading of an ordinance that would abolish the Economic Development Board. An alderman stated this would remove a level of red tape. This was just a first reading, so no further action was taken and will be brought back at a future meeting.

The Council also approved a budget resolution repurchasing undeveloped parcels in Daniel’s Addition. In 2021, the City purchased the parcel of land now known as the Daniel’s Addition, which was subdivided into twenty-three lots. The City entered into pre-sale agreements for 14 lots and has closed on 12 of those early lot sales.

They have entered into development agreements with lot owners whereby “Construction of the new home must begin on the Subject Property by June 1, 2023 (Common Council may grant an extension at its sole discretion) and completed (received Certificate of Occupancy) within two years from the start of construction.

Failure to begin construction within the required timeframe (unless an extension is granted) will require the Developer to sell the property back to the City at the purchase price, less $5,000 (City shall retain $5,000 from either the presale deposit or from the purchase price if no pre-sale agreement was signed.

In 2023, the City established a restricted reserve in the Economic Development fund setting aside money ($322,500) in the event an owner of a lot failed to meet the requirement of the development agreement.

A developer has decided it will not build on two of the four lots purchased and has sold them back to the City per the conditions of the development agreement. (Just over $74,000).

A budget resolution is needed to increase the budget in the Economic Development fund to accommodate this and other potential expenditures for the repurchase of the lots. The budget resolution allows an increase to the budget of $322,500; however, the account will be adjusted only when repurchases occur.

The Council also approved the new compensation plan for non-represented staff, and to approve the first step in implementation of the plan, adjusting pay rates as of July 1st of this year.

The recommendation included implementation of a new pay scale with placement of positions within the new scale. Each pay grade within the scale will be updated from a 15-step model to a 9-step model moving forward.

Each step of the model has a 2.5% difference in pay. It is recommended that employees be moved onto the new scale in 2024. It is further recommended that each year, employees would have the ability to receive a step increase and a cost of living adjustment in order to keep up with the market.

Some positions, based on market research conducted, needed to be moved to a different pay grade within the scale to be somewhat competitive. Additionally, there were some title changes based upon commonly found positions within the job market. Making these updates allows the City to accurately compare positions across the market to monitor pay changes in the future.

In the 2024 budget, $79,497 was set aside in the contingency account and intended to be put towards increases based upon recommendations of this compensation study.

McGrath has shared in their final report that the city's current compensation plan needs a 10% overall adjustment to the salary ranges to get closer to the current market. The estimated cost of moving employees to the same step they are on currently in the new scale exceeds the amounts we have budgeted for 2024.

The Council also had a brief discussion on Economic Development Board minutes regarding a non-profit’s ability to apply for funds. The Council also approved awarding a bid for construction inspection services for Green Acres Estates.

The Council also approved authorizing returning the CDBG-RLF housing rehabilitation program to the State, approved a 3-month contract extension with Cedar Corp (economic development), and approved a 3-month contract extension with SEH, Inc. (planning services).

During the Mayor’s comments, she mentioned some local residents winning invasive species awards. The City Administrator also reported on special meetings, an item on the agenda regarding Economic Development’s revolving loan fund, and a parking issue that was brought up at a previous Council meeting.

During the Council comments, an alderman reported on a Nasonville employee receiving master cheesemaker designation. Finally, during the Public Comments portion of the meeting, several residents spoke including one on a report from the U.S. Army regarding impact of climate change on the U.S.

Another spoke on a post taken down by Wildwood Zoo regarding rainbow popsicles being eaten by bears at the Zoo after a few negative comments associating them with Pride Month.

Another spoke regarding the Economic Development Board being asked to be shut down/also spoke about bathrooms on Wenzel Plaza; another spoke on bathrooms at Wenzel Plaza.

Another spoke on the Wenzel bathrooms and spoke on Mill Creek business park restrictions; and, finally, one spoke regarding previous comments made regarding the Economic Development Board.

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