The Stanley City Council voted to exchange 1.3 acres of City Land north of West Fourth Avenue and adjacent to Fandry Park with 2.3 acres of lake frontage land adjacent to Chapman Lake with Monte Shilts, owner of Premier Drywall, LLC at the Dec. 4 biweekly meeting. The city of Stanley will then purchase 2.5 acres of land south of West Fourth Avenue at the price of $55,000 plus cost. Shilts, who will purchase from the railroad an additional acre of land that is next to the 1.3 acres, plans to build three or four duplex homes on the land in the future. The city of Stanley additionally rejected the right of first refusal to the railroad for property that will be purchased by Shilts. The purchase is set to be completed in 2024. “It’s a win-win deal for both of us,” Shilts said of his land exchange with the city of Stanley. “I’ve lived in Stanley my whole life. It’s a good town and I want to see it grow a little bit.” “It probably wouldn’t be for a couple years,” Shilts replied when asked when the construction of the new duplexes would begin.

With Alderperson Jacob Huff absent and Alderperson Jason Meyer present via phone, the city council set the 2023 Mill Rate for the city of Stanley, Chippewa County at $12.81 mills on the assessed valuation of the assessable property and the city rate is $4.15.

Henke shared that the City had an reassessment completed this past year and members of the public were concerned that taxes would increase drastically.

“Some people may see an increase; some people could see a decrease in their taxes. We were required to do a reassessment and then try to keep the City Budget at least the amount that we needed to operate. I’m very happy where the City Mill rate is $4.15. If you look at it, it’s the lowest it’s been in the last eighteen years,” he said. Henke added, “We’re at a really good spot.”

The City of Stanley also set the mill rate for the city of Stanley, Clark County to $20.05 on the assessed valuation of the assessable property with the city rate of $3.58.

Fire Department

Fire Chief Korey Hagenson reminded the council that crash barriers needed to be installed at the Elk Park lift station around the LP tank in Chapman Park. Meyer mentioned that Chief Hagenson had previously mentioned the need for the barriers. Hagenson stated that Fire Code required it and inquired why it hasn’t been done yet.

“All the businesses in the city, all the LP cylinders, I have to make sure there are crash barriers. Any business, that has to be protected,” Hagenson stated.

“This is something we are going to have to add,” Meyer said, and Haas said it would need to be brought up to the Wastewater Department.

Meyer asked City Administrator Nicole Pilgrim to pass the information along to Wastewater operator, Nick Martin.

Hagenson also informed the Council that he had received reports of individuals ice fishing on Chapman Lake. “Is there something the City should be doing as far as safety? If someone falls through who is liable?” he asked mentioning that there weren’t any thin ice or danger signs posted at the park.

“If there was, every lake in Wisconsin would have one,” Alderperson Mark Fitzsimmons replied.

Hagenson remarked that he was asking because Chapman Lake is in the city limits.

Mayor Al Haas commented, “If you look at it, the lake really doesn’t belong to the City, it belongs to the DNR.”

“I know there used to be thin ice signs up there and they’re not anymore,” Hagenson said. “I’d rather bring it up now than when something does happen.”

Mayor Haas said he would look into getting signs installed.

The Stanley Fire Department is proud to have a new member on the team! Stanley resident Heather Junker was approved by the City Council to be hired to the Stanley Fire & EMS beginning this December.

In other news

The City Council approved the third pay application to Haas Sons for the Pine Street Extension in the amount of $88,398.50. Alderperson Mike Henke explained that it was the final pay application, and it came in underbid. “So, we’re paying less than what we bid on it, which is awesome,” he said as he moved to approve it.

Henke explained the resolution to allocate the 2023 TID #3 funds to be paid back to the General Fund. “TIF is going to have excess money. It has this year for the first time since it’s conception.” He stated that the amount is $179,198.79. “During the year we have approved a few things that the money come out of there. This is a resolution moving the money to the proper places,” he said.

The Council also unanimously authorized the carryover of unspent budgeted funds. Henke explained that the Council was approving the carryover of Police Outlay of $50,000 and Shop Outlay of $37,371.