City Council Meeting — Minutes

CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY JUNE 9, 2026 7:00 P.M. Mayor Jason TePaske called the Regular meeting of the Augusta City Council to order at 7:05 p.m. Present were council members Sue Troxel, Lisa Fugett, Brian Abley, Dawn Harper, and Brian Leslin. Also present were Scott Williamson, Kasandra Thompson, and Cynthia Anderegg. Absent: Gordon O’Brien, and Leslie LaRose. Pledge of Allegiance ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PROPER POSTING A notice of the meeting and an agenda was posted at the three public places, and the local newspaper was notified. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Fugett seconded by Leslin to approve the agenda. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Troxel seconded by Fugett to approve the minutes for the May 12, 2026 Board of Review. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT • Jesse Joles asked the council to consider allowing the raising of chickens on residential properties. Mr. Joles passed out a proposal to the council for consideration and requested it be put on a future council agenda. APPROVAL OF DEPARMENT REPORTS Motion by Leslin seconded by Abley to receive the Treasurer’s Report. Motion carried. Motion by Fugett seconded by Harper to receive the Police Department Report. Motion carried. Motion by Troxel seconded by Leslin to receive the Senior Center Report. Motion carried. Motion by Fugett seconded by Harper to receive the Library Report. Motion carried. Motion by Abley seconded by Leslin to receive the Public Works Department Report. Motion carried. No Minutes were submitted by the Augusta Bridge Creek Fire Department. COMMITTEE REPORTS Augusta Industrial Development Corp –5/11/26 No Quorum Plan Commission –5/19/26 The Commission discussed remedies for semi-truck parking issues on Industrial Dr. Joint City Improvement & Recreation Committees Meeting – 6/3/26 The Committee discussed starting a Memorial Tree Dedication program, A Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, and Community Night out planned for 8/4/2026 at the Senior and Community Center. Informational – Eau Claire County Recycling Program changes for 2027 – Regan Watts – Eau County Planning and Development Regan Watts presented the revised county recycling program changes that are planned for 2027. The redesign is to make the program more efficient and utilize and manage DNR grant funds. Eau Claire Planning and Development is still working on the plan. Licenses & Permits a. Discussion and possible action regarding proposed Augusta-to-Eau Claire transportation service by American Phoenix Transportation LLC, including review of City Code Section 11.09 Vehicles for Hire. Penny Sorensen, owner of American Phoenix Transportation LLC, presented her proposed plan to start a busing service with routes from a location in Augusta to seven stops in Eau Caire. The service would be available on Wednesdays with five runs to and from the designated stops in Eau Claire. The council will revisit this at the July council meeting. b. Discussion and possible action on establishing a permit program allowing area businesses and nonprofit organizations to install advertising signage on the “Welcome to Augusta” signs – review changes as previously discussed. Motion by Troxel seconded by Leslin to the “Welcome to Augusta” signs application and program. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, yes; Ward 3, yes; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. c. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Approval of Annual Garbage Hauler Permits for the Period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Table as permit application has not been received yet. The current contract with Waste Management will expire on June 30, 2027. Contract services began July 1, 2020. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Approval of Fireworks display on Friday, July 3, 2026 - Augusta Lion’s Club – Bean & Bacon Days event Motion by Leslin seconded by Harper to approve the fireworks display on Friday, July 3, 2026 at the Augusta Lion’s Club. Motion carried. d. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding renewal of Liquor and Beer License applications as follows: i. Class "B" Fermented Malt Beverage and "Class B" Intoxicating Liquor Licenses for License Year July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027, including Augusta Lion's Club, Inc.; The Real One, LLC d/b/a Mulligan's; and Shatt Country, LLC d/b/a The Bearded Panther Pub. Motion by Abley seconded by Fugett to approve the Class “B” fermented malt beverage and “Class B” Intoxicating Liquor License for: ▪ Augusta Lions Club, Inc. ▪ The Real One, LLC, d/b/a Mulligan’s. ▪ Shatt Country LLC, dba The Bearded Panther Pub Motion carried. ii. Class "A" Fermented Malt Beverage and "Class A" Intoxicating Liquor Licenses for License Year July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027, including J&S Sales of Chippewa Falls, LLC d/b/a Express Mart; Lance's Fresh Market, LLC; Family Dollar Stores of Wisconsin, LLC; and ProVision Partners Cooperative d/b/a Augusta Cenex Convenience Store Motion by Leslin seconded by Troxel to approve the Class “A” fermented malt beverage license and “Class A” Intoxicating Liquor license for: ▪ J&S Sales of Chippewa Falls, d/b/a Express Mart. ▪ Lance’s Fresh Market, LLC. ▪ Family Dollar Stores of Wisconsin, LLC. ▪ ProVision Partners Cooperative, d/b/a Augusta Cenex Convenience Store Motion carried. iii. Temporary Class "B" Picnic License for Augusta Lion's Club, Inc. for Bean and Bacon Days. Motion by Troxel seconded by Leslin to approve the Temporary Class "B" Picnic License for Augusta Lion's Club, Inc. for Bean and Bacon Days. Motion carried. e. Approve Agents on Liquor License Applications Motion by Troxel seconded by Leslin to approve the following liquor license agents: Christine Beenken as agent for Augusta Lions Club Shawn Welter as agent for The Real One, LLC, dba Mulligan’s Shawn Welter as agent for Shatt Country LLC, dba The Bearded Panther Pub Amanda Pettis as agent for J&S Sales of Chippewa d/b/a Express Mart Lance Modl as agent for Lance’s Fresh Market, LLC Brandi Zaring Roatch as agent for Family Dollar Stores of WI, LLC April Eisberner for ProVision Partners Cooperative, d/b/a Augusta Cenex Convenience Store Motion carried. f. Approve Cigarette License Applications Motion by Leslin seconded by Troxel to approve cigarette license applications for Express Mart, Lance’s Fresh Market LLC, Family Dollar, and Augusta Cenex Convenience Store. Motion carried g. Approve Bartender license Applications Motion by Leslin seconded by Fugett to approve the bartender license applications as recommended by Chief O’Brien. Motion carried Infrastructure & Utilities a. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Submission of a Simplified Rate Case Application to the Public Service Commission for Water Utility Rate Adjustments. Motion by Fugett seconded by Troxel to approve submitting Simplified Rate Case (SCR) application with the Public Service Commission (PSC) for a water utility rate increase with the effective date of 8-15-2026. Motion carried. Ordinances & Resolutions a. Approve Resolution 2026-0609 CMAR Report Motion by Leslin seconded by Fugett to approve assigning the resolution number for the CMAR Report - Resolution #2025-0610. Motion carried. The report was not ready by the council meeting. b. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding amendments to Chapter 11: Licenses and Permits regarding animal regulations- Second Reading Motion by Leslin seconded by Harper to waive the first reading. Motion carried. Motion by Harper seconded by Fugett to Amend 11.05 sections 1 through 4 as recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion carried. Motion by Troxel seconded by Fugett to have the Finance Committee review 11.05 Section 11: Regulation and Control of High-Risk Dogs. Motion carried. c. Discussion and Possible Action to temporarily suspend Ordinance 12.03(5) Consumption of Intoxicating Liquor or Fermented Malt Beverages, Prohibited Where (aka open container) for Sunday, July 5, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Motion by Leslin seconded by Fugett to waive the open container ordinance on July 5, 2026 from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Motion carried. ANNOUNCE AND DISCUSS UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS a. Capital Improvement Plan Committee – July 9th at 6:15 pm b. City Council Meeting – July 14th at 7:00p.m c. Joint City Improvement & Recreation Committee – June 25th at 5:30 pm ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to adjourn the meeting. Cynthia Anderegg, City Clerk