Common Council

Common Council Minutes The Common Council met at the City of Nekoosa Office Location: Council Chambers, 951 Market St. Nekoosa, WI 54457 Time: Tuesday, October 14th, 2025, at 7:00 P.M. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by Mayor Daniel J. Carlson. Roll call was conducted by Kallee Ferk, City Clerk. Roll Call Aldermen Present: Alan Marcoux, Larry Krubsack, Brian Lytner, Mike Kumm, Daniel Downing, Anthony Carlson, Brad Hamilton, and Garett Kuhn Also in attendance was, Rick Schmidt – Director of Public Works, Darla Allen – Library Director, Shawn Woods – Police Chief, Thomas Savage, and Gerry Carlson Attendance via Zoom: Bobbi Hertzberg – Treasurer Citizen Comment – Gerry Carlson discussed a pond he owns and that he is experiencing some pollutants in this pond. He sought the council for advice on the matter, but the council said he needs to look into some environmental legal action. Approval of Previous Common Council Minutes – September 9th, 2025 A motion was made to approve the minutes of the previous Common Council meetings as written. Motion by: Brda Hamilton Seconded by: Garett Kuhn Motion carried unanimously. Treasurer’s Report A motion was made to approve the treasurer’s report. Motion by: Brad Hamilton Seconded by: Anthony Carlson Motion carried unanimously. Committee Reports Committee of the Whole A motion was made to approve the minutes of the Committee of the Whole report of September 30th, 2025 be accepted as written. Motion by: Anthony Carlson Seconded by: Brad Hamilton Motion carried unanimously. Meeting Minutes: 1.) Discussion of 2026 budget planning with departmental budgets. (See Committee of the Whole meeting minutes for further details) No motion as there was nothing recommended for action. Personnel A motion was made to approve the minutes of the Personnel report of September 30th, 2025 be accepted as written. Motion by: Brad Hamilton Seconded by: Larry Krubsack Motion carried unanimously. Meeting Minutes: 1.) Motion by Carlson, seconded by Kumm to go into closed session pursuant to WI Stats. 19.85 (1) © to negotiate wages with the Nekoosa Public Works Union. All members voted yes. 2.) Motion by Carlson, seconded by Kumm to go into open session pursuant to Wi Stats. 19.85 (2) © to make possible recommendations from closed session. 3.) Recommend 4% wage increase effective January 1st, 2026 to December 31st, 2026. Increase uniform allowance by $150.00 a year. Recommend accepting DPW hourly workers as General Teamster Union Local 662. Recommend removing summer help bullet point. 4.) Motion by Carlson, seconded by Kumm to go into closed session pursuant to WI Stats. 19.85 (1) © to discuss full and part-time wages and benefits. 5.) Motion by Carlson, seconded by Kumm to go into open session pursuant to WI Stats. 19.85 (2) © to make possible recommendations on closed session items. 6.) Recommend 4% increase for full-time staff and Fire Chief’s years of service be retroactive to 1992 for vacation purposes. Increase of City Clerk vacation to 3 weeks. 7.) Recommend Resolution No. 14-2025 to correct hours in WRS for the Nekoosa Fire Chief and Assistant Chief. Motion that Items 3, 6, and 7 of the 09/30/2025 Personnel Committee Meeting be adopted for action. Motion by: Brad Hamilton Seconded by: Anthony Carlson Roll call vote: 8 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously. Personnel A motion was made to approve the minutes of the Personnel report of October 7th, 2025 be accepted as written. Motion by: Brad Hamilton Seconded by: Larry Krubsack Motion carried unanimously. Meeting Minutes: 1.) Committee moved to go into closed session per WI Stats. 19.85 (1) ©. Motion by Kuhn, seconded by Lytner, all voted yes. 2.) Committee moved to go to open session per WI Stats. 19.85 (2) ©. Motion by Kuhn, seconded by Lytner, all voted yes. 3.) Recommend accepting resignation agreement as written. 4.) Discussed updates to employee handbook. Motion that Item 3 of the 10/07/2025 Personnel Committee Meeting be adopted for action. Motion by: Brad Hamilton Seconded by: Larry Krubsack Roll call vote: 5 Ayes, 3 Nays. Aye: Larry Krubsack, Brian Lytner, Dan Downing, Garett Kuhn, and Brad Hamilton Nay: Al Marcoux, Mike Kumm, and Anthony Carlson Motion carried. Planning Commission A motion was made to approve the minutes of the Planning Commission report of September 30thnd, 2025 to be accepted as written. Motion by: Brad Hamilton Seconded by: Anthony Carlson Motion carried unanimously. Meeting Minutes: 1. Motion to go into closed session to deliberate on purchase of public property – 117 Ward Street. 2. Motion to come out of closed session to make recommendations on purchase of public property. 3. Recommendation to not purchase 117 Ward Street. 4. Discussion of Peckham Road project. Motion that Item 3 of the Planning Commission meeting be adopted for action. Motion by: Brad Hamilton Seconded by: Anthony Carlson Roll call vote: 8 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously. Public Works A motion was made to approve the minutes of the Public Works Committee report of October 7th, 2025 to be accepted as written. Motion by: Larry Krubsack Seconded by: Anthony Carlson Motion carried unanimously. Meeting Minutes: 1. Recommend Ordinance No. 640 – Recycling Regulations for adoption. 2. Recommend spending $41435.00 on installing a speed control/flow pacing of ferric chloride for the SCADA project at the Wastewater Treatment Facility. 3. Recommend replacing 3 Variable Frequency Drives for a total of $15,091.00. 4. Discussion on closure of the joint landfill with the Town of Port Edwards and the wait on the DNR to look at the wells on the site. a. Al Marcoux elaborated on this at the meeting stating that the him, Rick Schmidt, and Randy Moody from the Town of Port Edwards figured out that the CD is locked for 40 years, so it will be released in 2034. Motion that Items 1, 2, and 3 of the Public Works Committee Meeting be adopted for action. Motion by: Larry Krubsack Seconded by: Brad Hamilton Roll call vote: 8 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously. Public Safety A motion was made to approve the minutes of the Public Safety report of October 7th, 2025 to be accepted as written. Motion by: Anthony Carlson Seconded by: Brad Hamilton Motion carried unanimously. Meeting Minutes: 1. Discussion with Wisconsin Rapids Fire and EMS on 2026 and 2027 contract for EMS services. 2. Discussion on the ISO audit rating for the Fire Department. 3. Recommend trading current pistols to purchase 8 handguns, optics, and holsters for approximately $2,000.00 total. Motion that Item 3 of the Public Safety Committee Meeting be adopted for action. Motion by: Anthony Carlson Seconded by: Brad Hamilton Roll call vote: 8 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously. Property Recreation and Human Affairs A motion was made to approve the minutes of the Property Recreation and Human Affairs Committee report of October 14th, 2025 to be accepted as written. Motion by: Mike Kumm Seconded by: Brad Hamilton Motion carried unanimously. Meeting Minutes: 1. Recommend selling lot #33 (855 Brook Trout Court) to Tom and Larissa Savage for $4,500. 2. Recommend removing old baseball fencing at Riverside Park, leaving the backstop fence. 3. Recommend setting layout for west area of Riverside Cemetery. 4. Recommend closing Kautzer Pavillion for the winter. Motion that Items 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Property Recreation and Human Affairs Committee Meeting be adopted for action. Motion by: Mike Kumm Seconded by: Anthony Carlson Roll call vote: 8 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously. Ways & Means A motion was made to approve the minutes of the Ways & Means Committee report of October 14th, 2025 be accepted as written. Motion by: Daniel Downing Seconded by: Anthony Carlson Motion carried unanimously. Meeting Minutes: 1.) Audited the bill lists. 2.) Recommend $1,500.00 donation to the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce for the Nekoosa Holiday Parade and Fireworks. 3.) Recommend applications for beverage operator licenses to: Timothy Oleson for the Edge, Brandon Jacoby for The Jacoby Open event at the Community Center, and Brandon Lamb for GPM Investments (BP Gas Station). 4.) Recommend $800.00 advertisement in the Visitor’s Guide of the Wisconsin Rapids Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, splitting costs with For Nekoosa. Motion that Items 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Ways and Means Committee Meeting be adopted for action. Motion by: Daniel Downing Seconded by: Brad Hamilton Roll call vote: 8 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously. Old Business - No old business items were brought forward for discussion. New Business Discussion and possible action on options for Security Health insurance plan for 2026 budget. City Clerk, Kallee Ferk presented the health care renewal options for everyone to start considering for the next budget meeting. To keep the same plan, the city is looking at an 18% increase in rates. If the deductible is raised to 2,000/4,000 for single/family then the rate increase would be 15%. If the deductible is changed to 2,000/4,000 with 80% co-insurance until the maximum out of pocket is met, which is 3,500/7,000 then the increase would be 8%. Approval of all Department Reports A motion was made to approve the various monthly reports from the Police Chief, Public Works Director, Fire Department, Community Center, and Charles & JoAnn Lester Library. Motion by: Brad Hamilton Seconded by: Anthony Carlson Motion carried unanimously. Audit Bill List / Approval of Bills Pooled Cash: Check #64041-64165 and other voucher payments from 09/10/2025-10/14/2025 Total Expenditure from all Funds = $511, 368.97 Payroll: Check #56272-56283 Voucher #V13782- V13849 payments from 09/10/2025– 10/14/2025 Total: $146,648.77 A motion was made to approve the bills for the month. Motion by: Brad Hamilton Seconded by: Garett Kuhn Roll call vote: 8 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously. Adjournment A motion was made to adjourn the meeting. Motion by: Brad Hamilton Seconded by: Dan Downing Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:42pm