At the Stanley City Council meeting on April 22, newly sworn-in Alderperson Keith Samuelson joined fellow council members in approving a Request for Proposals (RFP) advertisement for hazardous material abatement as part of the D.R. Moon Memorial Library FFP 24-33 renovation project.
Mayor Mike Henke addressed the council, stating, “We know there is asbestos in it. We also know there’s lead paint in it,” referencing a report from five years ago that identified the locations of these materials within the library. He emphasized the necessity of advertising to secure a firm for their removal. “We got to advertise to get a firm in there to remove that.”
Alderperson Mark Fitzsimmons inquired about the extent of the removal process. CBS Squared Engineer Jon Strand clarified that a detailed plan specification would be required, noting, “It’s to comply with the law.”
Mayor Henke added that the grant stipulations outline the specific materials that must be removed. Strand further mentioned, “Most of it is removed but there are a few exceptions for certain things.”
Mayor Henke concluded, “There’s not a lot in there. They know where it is,” reassuring the council of the manageable scope of the project. The council unanimously approved the RFP advertisement, marking a significant step forward in the library’s renovation efforts.
The Council moved on to approve a proposal to grant a twelve-foot easement to Paul Close for the installation of water and sewer lines at the corner of West 8th Avenue and Carter Road.
Mayor Mike Henke initiated the discussion, stating, “I would think we want to give Paul an easement on the right-of-way on that side of about twelve feet.” He clarified that Close has received approval to install the pipes, and any necessary repairs would be his responsibility, emphasizing, “They’re not going to be city owned.”
Fitzsimmons supported the proposal, noting that this approach would minimize disruption to the road compared to installing separate services for each unit Close plans to build, stating, “It would just wreck the road.”
The 2025 Sanitary Survey for Stanley Waterworks was approved by the Council following a brief explanation by Jon Strand. He outlined that this survey, conducted every three years by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), is one of the most thorough reviews of the water system. Required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it allows the DNR to monitor the city’s drinking water system.
“It really only applies to the drinking water system,” Strand emphasized, explaining that they do an intensive review of each of the well structures and treatment plants and take a look at code compliant issues.
“This report came up with a significant deficiency,” said Strand. In 2022, the DNR noted that the city needed to complete a capacity analysis. While the city was addressing some related issues, this analysis had not been formally completed, and as a result, it was flagged again as a significant deficiency. “The city does need to complete a capacity evaluation.” Strand confirmed that it must be completed by December 31, 2025.
Strand also highlighted two other deficiencies. The first was that hydrants had not been flushed every two years as required. In 2022 and 2023, the DNR noted that fewer than 50% of the hydrants were flushed. However, Strand noted that in 2024, the city flushed more than 50% of the hydrants and is actively flushing hydrants now to ensure compliance. Henke stated that the Water Department’s goal is to have 150 hydrants flushed by July 1st, with plans to eventually flush all hydrants this year. “I would like to flush them all this year,” he added.
The department is flushing five hydrants a day, and Henke indicated they will keep better track of the process moving forward.
The final deficiency identified was a broken floor drain pipe at well #7. The pipe, which drains to daylight, was damaged by equipment at some point, and the top portion was broken off. Henke assured that the repair would be completed by May 23rd.
“For different populations served, all cities have to complete a risk and resilience assessment and an emergency response plan,” Strand informed the Council. Given Stanley’s population, these plans are required. The risk and resilience assessment is due by June 30, 2026, and the emergency response plan by December 31, 2026. Strand noted that City Administrator Nicole had already updated the emergency response plan this year, putting the city well on its way to meeting the 2026 deadline.
The Wastewater I&I proposal from ESS Brothers and Sons, Inc. was presented at a cost of $35,750.00. Henke explained that there are approximately 100 manholes that require attention, and the company plans to address 50 of them this year, with the remaining 50 to be worked on next year. He clarified that the focus for this year would be on the 50 most problematic manholes, excluding Maple Street, as that area is part of the ongoing Maple Street Reconstruction project.
“What kind of longevity are we looking at on this?” Alderperson Ben Wald inquired. Henke responded that he anticipated it would last about ten to fifteen years. “It sounds like the warranty is ten,” Henke added.
The Council approved the Chippewa County Highway Department’s proposal for chip seal work in the City of Stanley, at a cost of $42,759.60. Fitzsimmons informed the Council that Chippewa County had reached out to him about chip sealing their section of road, which begins at the on-ramp on Highway 29, extending to Don Smith, and continues out to Deer Park Road and Franklin Street, from the 1st Avenue intersection to the 8th Avenue intersection.
He explained that the county would handle all the crack filling, sealing, and any necessary patching of bad spots, including some spread patches on Main Street. The city’s responsibility would be to handle the exterior ten feet on each side of the roads, and the county would return to paint the center stripes. The city would also be in charge of sweeping the curbs and cleaning up any rock debris after the project is finished, while the county would take care of sweeping areas that aren’t curb and gutter.
Fitzsimmons noted that the life expectancy of the chip seal would be seven to ten years before any further work is needed on these surfaces. “I think it’s a good situation,” he said expressing confidence in the project, highlighting that Main Street and Franklin Street experience heavy traffic. He also mentioned that the materials for the project are sourced from south of town. further supporting local business. “We’re supporting local,” he commented.
When Alderperson Jason Meyer asked if the work would be completed this year, Fitzsimmons confirmed that the project was scheduled to be completed the weekend after the rodeo, with the work expected to take about one day. “Our responsibilities are the sweeping and covering our own utility services,” he reiterated.
In response to Meyer’s question about where the funding would come from, Henke clarified that the cost would be covered by the maintenance budget. “We have more than enough money to pay for this,” he explained, noting that a bid for another project had come under budget.

In other news
The City of Stanley has awarded a $13,000 contract to Jerry’s Painting & Staining of Withee for interior painting services at the City Shop. Jerry’s Painting & Staining is a family-owned business, serving both residential and commercial properties in Wisconsin, that offers a range of services, including general and commercial painting, staining, power washing, and roof repair.
The Stanley City Council approved the hiring of two seasonal employees to support city operations. Roy Fredrickson has been appointed to handle lawn mowing duties and Pat Fitzsimmons has been designated for duties in Chapman Park Campground.
Following a closed session, the Stanley City Council, with Meyer abstaining, approved an updated pay schedule for the Stanley Fire Department, effective January 1, 2026.