Recap of Items Approved/Discussed at Recent Marshfield Common Council Meeting

Monday, May 19th, 2025 -- 8:01 AM

The Marshfield Common Council discussed and approved several items at their recent meeting.

Communications Director Tom Loucks shared why the City website is a critical citizen engagement tool. The website must be easily read on mobile devices, and its content must be maintained by a collective effort by all departments.

Mayor Lois TeStrake read a proclamation in preparation for the upcoming Memorial Day, recalling its origins and significance as a day to remember and honor fallen soldiers.

The community is invited to participate in a Memorial Day parade and solemn observance at Hillside Cemetery, reinforcing local traditions of remembrance and honor.

City Administrator Steve Barg mentioned a “Clean Sweep” on Saturday, May 31st, from 8 to noon, inviting residents to properly dispose of difficult-to-dispose-of household and agricultural waste at the Marshfield Agricultural Research Station.

The administrator reported challenges in scheduling strategic planning meetings due to conflicts arising from summer vacations and varying council members' schedules. Proposed dates for sessions in June have not secured a quorum, prompting suggestions to push discussions to late summer or early fall.

The Council also discussed an architectural proposal approval for a new police station. A motion was made to approve architectural engineering services for the renovation project. This proposal includes a comprehensive plan as a feasibility study to assess the existing site for future enhancements and training capabilities.

The Council also heard the selection criteria for a training center. Short Elliott and Hendrickson were selected due to their extensive background in training facility design and knowledge of National Fire Protection Association standards. The funding for the training center project comes from a combination of sources, including a 50-50 match from Midstate Technical College and the City.

Future funding opportunities are being explored, including local grants and federal support, which could alleviate the need for tax levy contributions. The Council also heard an update on the Boys and Girls Club Initiative.

The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield aims to address child care shortages, particularly for young children, tweens, and teens, by providing a safe environment after school and during breaks for working parents.

The club's mission is to empower youth to realize their full potential. It plans to open a new site in the summer, promoting inclusivity through affordable pricing structures for needy families.

The main goal is to ensure kids have fun and want to be at the program, which is achieved through choice-based programming. The Boys and Girls Club plans to launch its first program at Grant School during the summer, providing after-school care for children enrolled in summer school.

Discussions are in progress for a future standalone site, which would allow for expanded programming targeted explicitly at tween and teen populations. The initiative aims to raise $1 million over two years to support the operations of a newly identified school site.

Key contributions have already come in from local benefactors, with a notable donation of $500,000 from John and Annette Vandehey, demonstrating community commitment.

The campaign has achieved 85% of its funding goal, indicating a strong community backing and enthusiasm as the project gears up for its official launch this summer.

The Council also heard an overview of the Yellowstone Industrial Park. Yellowstone Industrial Park is a newly certified site in the heart of Wisconsin (Marshfield), specifically designed for economic development and business growth.

The park encompasses 123 acres and is certified by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, which signifies it meets specific rigorous standards required for business readiness.

Due diligence studies, such as wetlands reports, geotechnical investigations, and environmental site assessments, have already been completed to ensure the site is prepared for future development.

The Council also approved a budget resolution increasing the City Administrator’s professional services account up to $30,000 for recruitment services. A discussion was held regarding the vacant positions in the Development Services Department, highlighting the need for a senior planner.

This role has been vacant for over two years, creating a critical gap in the planning staff. Currently, the department lacks a director and a senior planner, necessitating the exploration of alternative recruitment strategies to fill this position.

The Finance, Budget, and Personnel committee supported allocating up to $30,000 from contingency funds to cover recruitment and relocation costs for the new senior planner.

The Council approved an engineering services contract for the design of the 4th St (Maple Ave to Peach Ave). This contract involves a three-party agreement between WISDOT, a consultant, and the City, which is important to meet the state’s funding signature deadline.

The total cost for engineering services is $394,154, with a 20% local share of $78,831. The total project cost estimate is $2,729,500, with a local share of $433,900.  Construction is currently planned for 2028.

A recommendation was made to shift the Board of Public Works meetings. Moving forward, the Board of Public Works will meet on Tuesdays at 6:15 p.m. instead of Mondays at 5:30 p.m. The Council passed the appointment, and Ashley Winch to replace former Councilman Russ Stauber on the Housing Committee.

Finally, they heard an overview of Staff Updates by the City’s Finance Director. "Now that we are nearing the completion of our audit, I wanted to share some preliminary figures regarding our fiscal performance for 2024," said City’s Finance Director Jennifer Selensky.

The director provided updates highlighting the preliminary results of the audit. Revenue is approximately $450,000 favorable to budget, while expenses show a favorable variance of roughly $1.3 million.

The financial update detailed several factors contributing to revenue fluctuations, including higher-than-anticipated revenues from sources like the Marshfield Utilities and an increase in mobile home taxes.

It was emphasized that while certain revenues showed one-time increases, caution should be exercised in budgeting for these funds due to their unpredictable nature. Future budgeting cycles will need to account for these variances to ensure sustainability.

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