The Stanley Common Council met Monday, Oct. 5 in city hall, with several updates.
Striking the D.R. Moon Library Report along with item two in new business after no action was forwarded from committee of the whole, the council brought forward four actions from closed session. Among them it voted to increase pay for city employee Larry Rudnick by $1.00 per hour effective Oct. 4 as well as 50 cents per hour for city employee Brett Kinard retroactive to Sept. 2. The council also voted to enter a pro-rated settlement of the developer’s agreement with RESCO and to waive outstanding room tax payment incurred prior to July 3.
Approved in the night’s agenda business as well were preliminary budget preparations for 2027, updates to the city’s five-year capital improvement plan and an approved pay request for the D.R. Moon Memorial Library renovation project.
The council also approved several recommendations forwarded by the Committee of the Whole, including expenditures associated with the city’s Central Water Treatment Plant, employee wage matters and the posting of the Jetter Truck to Wisconsin Surplus.
The council approved the preliminary 2027 general budget for publication, advancing the city’s annual budget process, with right-of-way permits added to allow the city to track road work. The action followed the presentation of the 2025 audit results and discussion of the 2025–2026 budget reports during the Sept. 21 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Council members also approved an update to the city’s five-year capital improvement plan. The plan provides a framework for identifying and prioritizing major municipal expenditures over multiple years, helping the city coordinate infrastructure investments and other long-term financial obligations.
In other finance matters, the council also approved Change Order 17 for the Central Water Treatment Plant in the amount of $6,472.26, allowing fiber to be run to wellhouse 10.
In library related matters meanwhile the council approved a payment request totaling $244,540.91 from Hoeft Builders for the D.R. Moon Memorial Library renovation project. The original contract was valued at $3,994,893, with approved changes totaling $379,291.28 brought the revised contract amount to $4,374,184.28.
In other business, the council approved the 2027 insurance rates for city employees and authorized discussions with the Stanley Police Association regarding a new police contract.
Also Monday, the council approved the use of the Stanley Community Center for the annual Reclaim the Magic Christmas event, as requested by Tom Larson. The approval included waiving the facility’s rental fees for Dec. 17, 18, and 19, meaning that Reclaim the Magic should arrive just before Christmas.
Council members also approved posting the city’s Jetter Truck on Wisconsin Surplus with a reserve of $320,000 following a recommendation from the Committee of the Whole.
The equipment sale was among several recommendations brought forward from the committee’s previous discussions.
As for department updates from Monday, Police Chief Lance Weiland reported that a meeting was scheduled for Oct. 19 involving representatives from Bloomer, Cadott and Cornell to obtain additional information about the possibility of establishing a joint municipal court. Should the proposal advance, the municipalities will need to determine the arrangement’s operational and administrative requirements. Weiland also reported that the squad car damaged in an earlier incident involving a dog had returned to service.
The police department meanwhile has continued addressing staffing challenges. One department employee remained on medical leave through the end of November, while another was on military leave until early November. The department has adjusted schedules and relied on overtime to maintain coverage.
The department also reported continued work on records requests and upcoming mandatory pursuit training for officers.
Recent vandalism affecting public facilities remained a concern. Damage to restrooms at Chapman Park and Soo Line Park had been resolved, with charges expected against several juveniles.
As for Streets, parks, and cemetery matters, department head Joe Schmitt reported work involving park maintenance, sidewalk repairs, mowing, equipment preparation and stormwater management.
Repairs have been made at Chapman Park and Soo Line Park following recent vandalism, with workers continuing cleaning and maintenance work at recreational facilities, including preparations for seasonal campground operations.
Additional work included cleaning drainage structures, repairing equipment, removing fallen trees and addressing maintenance needs at city parks.
As for the wastewater update, department head Jake Lukes reported continued efforts to maintain compliance with phosphorus discharge limits. Other work includes routine laboratory testing, hauling of sludge to the landfill and completion of routine maintenance at the treatment plant and lift stations.
The department has also continued work involving the plant’s ultraviolet treatment system and tertiary filters, with routine work scheduled the next two weeks.
In fire news, Stanley Fire Chief Ron Patten reported 28 fire inspections but no emergency calls during the preceding two weeks.
Patten also wrote that firefighters participated in extrication training with the Boyd-Edson-Delmar Fire Department and Boyd-Edson-Delmar Ambulance. The exercise involved a simulated three-vehicle accident with multiple patients.
The department plans to continue its regular equipment inspections, maintenance and monthly training activities.
Closing with the water update, the water report included working with Water Surplus to begin flushing and chlorinating filters, completion of lead and copper testing, and meeting with representatives of American Flow Control to acquire new hydrant rebuild kits. The water department also replaced a cracked check valve for the chlorine system at the Central Plant. Upcoming work includes continued bacteriological testing, routine system maintenance and planning for the rehabilitation of the Northwest Plant next year.
Stanley Common Council meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each month in city hall. The public is welcome to attend.