Wausau Committee of the Whole Meeting - 7/13/26

The City of Wausau Committee of the Whole meeting on July 13, 2026, focused heavily on procurement and budgetary matters. Key procurement discussions included the lead service line replacement program, where the city has replaced over 2,600 lines to date and is seeking approximately $18.6 million in future funding from the Department of Natural Resources and EPA grants. The committee discussed the potential adoption of a mandatory ordinance to improve funding eligibility and compliance with federal mandates, though concerns about mandating homeowner participation were raised. Additionally, Chief Barnes presented a proposal to repurpose the existing police department building into a central fire station and potentially relocate the police department to the former UW Marathon campus. The council considered authorizing a budget modification of up to $50,000 to conduct facility assessments and develop renovation cost models as part of a competitive RFP process with Marathon County. The meeting also included an extensive discussion on the city’s budget process and priorities, highlighting the need for earlier and more deliberate budget discussions, revenue diversification options such as vehicle registration fees and stormwater utilities, and the challenges posed by limited revenue growth and increasing costs. A motion was passed to have finance staff collaborate with the council and mayor to improve the budget process for future fiscal years.