It was a long one Monday, Oct. 19, as the Stanley Common Council met in city hall, preceded by committee meetings.
Starting at 5:15 p.m., the Personnel and Finance Committee reviewed the 2027 preliminary budgets for the water, sewer, the TIF Fund, Perpetual Care Fund, and D.R. Moon Memorial Library, forwarding them for approval.
The committee then entered into closed session under 19.85(1)(c) of the state statutes regarding 2026 Employee Annual Reviews and 2027 Employee Annual Wage increases.
Upon exiting closed session the committee voted to raise staff wages, with increases of 50 cents per hour for most employees. Wastewater operator Jake Lukes and streets, grounds, and cemeteries head Joe Schmitt each received 75 cents per hour. Police Chief Lance Weiland received a 4.3 percent wage increase for a total of $90,741, with the city also approving a new police contract for officers.
The fire department also saw wage adjustments, including a $2 increase per call in the fire department. Building inspector Bill Chwala’s wages will stay the same at $2,250 per year. The changes take effect Dec. 28.
The council also voted wages per committee meeting to increase from $15 to $25 per meeting, with additional wage increases for indivudal council posts to take effect with the future election of each indiviudal council seat.
The committee of the whole met at 6 p.m. following the personnel and finance committee, also in city hall. On the agenda along with preliminary budgets were several change orders, two related to the Central Water Treatment Plant for $16,980.20 and $13,062.17 respectively, as well as several from Hoeft for the library, as recommended by the library board.
The committee of the whole also discussed a $2,500 increase to the CBS Squared Grant Administration Contract, as recommended by the library board.
Following committees it was into council proper, with the city taking up items from committee for a vote.
Convening after committee of the whole at 7:42 p.m. in City Hall, the council approved preliminary 2027 budgets for the city’s water, sewer, tax increment financing and perpetual care cemetery funds. The council also approved the proposed 2027 budget for the D.R. Moon Memorial Library.
Included in personnel matters were three officer resignations by Stanley Police Department officers. Part-time Officer Andrew Johnson submitted his resignation effective Oct. 18, while part-time Officer Melissa McDonough and full-time Officer Tyler Lewien submitted resignations effective Oct. 31.
All three officers submitted resignation letters, McDonough saying she appreciated the opportunities and experiences through the course of her employment with the city. Johnson said that he considered employment an eye-opening experience that had taught many life lessons, making the decision to end his employment after “long consideration and reflection” on what was best for the department, himself, and his family.
Lewien’s resignation letter voiced appreciation for the opportunity to have served the city and intent to leave on good terms.
“I appreciate the opportunity to have served the Stanley Police Department for the last 15 years,” Lewien wrote. “My intent is to turn in the required equipment in a timely fashion and depart on good terms.”
The three resignations leave the department with five full-time and two-part time officers, the council later approving a new police contract.
Infrastructure spending was also on the agenda Monday, with council members approving an Application for Payment No. 12 from Market & Johnson Inc. totaling $433,882.05 for the Central Water Treatment Plant project. The payment covers work including concrete, structural steel, mechanical equipment, piping and other construction activities.
Also approved in council were several change orders submitted by Hoeft Builders for the library renovation, including both additional costs and credits. Not approved mean while were change orders 42 and 46, with change order 42 deemed not relevant as volunteers were able to fix the issue and 46 recommended by the library board for rejection.
The council also considered separate change orders from CBS Squared related to grant administration and the Central Water Treatment Plant project.
The council considered a final payment of $96,973.53 to Haas Sons Inc. for the West Business Park project, which included roadway construction, utilities, storm sewer installation and related infrastructure improvements.
Other business covered at Monday council included approval of accounts payable checks totaling $219,808.09 and the appointment of Paige Taylor as an authorized signer on city checking, savings, certificates of deposit and trust accounts.
The council considered an agreement for a turnaround area at the end of East Ninth Avenue, along with an application from Tyler Reynolds to bowhunt whitetail deer on city-owned property. The area identified by Reynolds in the application includes the field by the water treatment plant as well as the area behind it, land behind Mahr’s Disc Golf and Greg Pogodzinski, as well as a 10-acre site on Copenhaver Avenue used by the city for a shooting range. Reynolds application lists Oct. 14, 2026 to Jan. 13, 2027 as the dates for bowhunting, with a release and hold harmless agreement included with city approval.
Additional consent agenda items approved from Monday include a beverage intoxicating beverage liquor license application for Hailey Davison, as well as two proclamations, one recognizing November as Deer Donation Month and another recognizing November as Global Entrepreneurship Month.
As for department reports, the bimonthly police report by Chief Weiland included three officer resignations, also reporting that the department had handled 56 Department of Motor Vehicles transactions, conducted 16 vehicle inspections and responded to 162 calls for service during September. Weiland also reported that a meeting with police chiefs from Bloomer, Cadott and Cornell was scheduled for Oct. 19 to gather additional information about the possibility of a joint municipal court.
As for water and wastewater water operator employee Ben Blair reported continued testing, cleaning and preparations for operations at the new Central Water Treatment Plant, while wastewater department head Jake Lukes reported ongoing efforts to maintain phosphorus removal requirements and work on lift station equipment.
Stanley Fire Chief Ron Patten reported 14 fire inspections over the past two weeks and approval of a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources grant for four portable radios and five pagers.