Wausau Pilot and Review · Wausau, WI
By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review A failed plan to cut the number of Wausau council committees could resurface as the council’s rules committee begins a broad review of how alders do business. Alder Matt Hoenecke told the Rules Review Committee on Monday that he plans to bring the idea back at the committee’s next meeting. He cited complaints about the number of meetings and about items that pass through several committees before reaching the full council. “I think it warrants a closer look to see if more alders on fewer committees means more efficient city business, means more eyes on the issues before it comes to council,” Hoenecke said, adding that he was not yet saying consolidation is the answer. Mayor Doug Diny proposed shrinking the council’s committee structure at the start of the term in April. The plan drew a 6-5 majority but fell short of the two-thirds needed to change the standing rules.
Wausau Pilot and Review · Wausau, WI
By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review A Wausau committee on Thursday takes up assessments for five streets set for 2027 rebuilds, Kolbe & Kolbe driveway requests, vacant city land, accessible parking and leaf pickup. For property owners along those five streets, Thursday’s vote is the first formal step toward assessment bills. City Engineer Allen Wesolowski told the committee in October that those bills typically run $3,000 to $5,000, according to draft minutes of that meeting. The Infrastructure and Facilities Committee meets at 5 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 407 Grant St. City staff recommends approval of every action item on the agenda. The preliminary resolution covers South 11th Avenue from West Thomas Street to Flieth Street; Ethel Street from Grand Avenue to Zimmerman Street; and Emerson Street, Mount View Boulevard and Pied Piper Lane, each from Ethel Street to Eau Claire Boulevard.
Wausau Pilot and Review · Wausau, WI
By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review WAUSAU — A former Wausau City Council president says city staff, not alders, let a lead pipe ordinance stall for two years, then blamed the council for lost state loan forgiveness. “Waiting until the matter is on fire and then blaming the council is a cop out,” Lisa Rasmussen wrote in a public comment responding to a Wausau Pilot & Review story on social media. Rasmussen was council president most recently from April 2024 until she lost her seat in April 2026. In a Nov. 4 memo, Public Works and Utilities Director Eric Lindman wrote that Wausau’s 2027 lead pipe project scored too low for state principal forgiveness because the council “did not pass the LSLR Ordinance prior to the application submission,” the Pilot reported last week. A citywide project saw no forgiveness, and $4.1 million for homeowners’ lines came as a loan instead. The dispute matters for taxpayers.
Wausau Pilot and Review · Wausau, WI
By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review WAUSAU — Residents on Tuesday urged Wausau leaders to formally end the city’s Flock camera contract by Sunday, as alders adopted a 2027 budget that leaves out the $50,000 payment. “Covering the cameras stops their use, but only written notice ends the contract and the remaining payments of up to $100,000,” Courtney Olsen told the Wausau City Council. Olsen thanked alders for their Oct. 27 vote to stop using Flock data and cover the cameras, and said public works crews covered them Monday. She asked the city to send Flock written notice under Section 11.16 of the contract by Nov. 15. She said the section lets the city leave for non-appropriation “without penalty or other cost.” Olsen told the Finance Committee earlier Tuesday that the next invoice is expected around Dec. 15, and that sending notice by Sunday would let 30 days run before then.