City Council — Minutes

CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY DECEMBER 9, 2025 7:00 P.M. Mayor Jason TePaske called the Regular meeting of the Augusta City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were council members Sue Troxel, Lisa Fugett, Brian Leslin, and Robert Chaffee. Also present were Kasandra Thompson, and Cynthia Anderegg. Absent: Brian Abley, Gordon O’Brien, Scott Williamson, 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 Troxel seconded by Chaffee to approve the agenda. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Leslin seconded by Fugett to approve the minutes for the following meetings: November 11th Regular City Council meeting. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT Jason TePaske announced the Christmas Tree Decoration Fundraiser at the Augusta City Hall to benefit the Augusta Community Cupboard (food pantry). Three trees are being decorated by the Augusta Area Senior and Community Center, The Woodshed, and the Augusta Elementary School. Citizens may vote for your favorite tree. Food donations may be left at the Augusta City Hall or contact the Community Cupboard to make arrangements to drop off donations. APPROVAL OF DEPARMENT REPORTS Motion by Leslin seconded by Troxel to receive the Treasurer’s Report. Motion carried. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Fugett to receive the Police Department Report. Motion carried. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to receive the Senior Center Report. Motion carried. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to receive the Library Report. Motion carried. Public Works Department Report – None submitted. The Augusta Bridge Creek Fire Department submitted the Minutes from the October 10, 2025 meeting. COMMITTEE REPORTS Capital Improvement Plan Committee Meeting – 11/20/25 The committee approved recommending the final draft of the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan document to the Augusta City Council for adoption and implementation. Discussion later on agenda. Augusta Industrial Development Corp –12/02/25 The IDC discussed marketing strategies for the industrial park and promoting the sale of available city owned industrial lots. Discussion later on agenda. The next meeting is scheduled for 01/14/26 DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2026-2030 CITY OF AUGUSTA CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT Motion by Chaffee seconded by Fugett to approve and implement the 2026-2030 City of Augusta Capital Improvement Plan. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, yes; Ward 3, Absent; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. CONSIDER THE AUGUSTA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION’S REQUEST FOR THE CITY TO MARKET THE AVAILABLE CITY OWNED INDUSTRIAL LOTS Motion by Chaffee seconded by Fugett to authorize the Augusta IDC to market the available city-owned industrial property on behalf of the City of Augusta. Motion carried. CONSIDER PURCHASE OF RADIO READ METER SYSTEM – WATER & SEWER FUNDS An automated metering system improves efficiency and accuracy in data collection and billing along with reduced labor costs. The estimated cost of the system and equipment is $87,000 to be spread over 2025-2028 budget years. Motion by Chaffee seconded by Fugett to approve the purchase of an automated meter reading system as proposed in the 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan. The purchase of software and a portion of the pads for the meters will be purchased in 2025 using Water Funds and Sewer Funds. Roll call vote: Ward 1, yes; Ward 2, yes; Ward 3, Absent; Ward 4, yes; Ward 5, yes. Motion carried. UPDATE ON SPRING STREET SEWAGE LIFT STATION PROJECT – DAVY ENGINEERING Carson Hackett, Professional Engineer with Davy Engineering, reported the following update via email: I reached out to We Energies about extending natural gas main down to the new Spring St. Sewage Lift Station site and they are in the process of determining the cost involved to extend the gas main. The current natural gas main ends at 410 Buckman St., so they’d need to install about 350’ feet of new gas main to serve the new lift station generator. I’m hoping to receive the cost from We Energies within the next couple of weeks. If feasible, I’ll review the cost with the City and determine if the City wants to go that route. I also received a recommendation from Generac as to which model of natural gas generator to use in lieu of an LP generator. Generac mentioned that generally natural gas generators are a little less expensive than LP. If we end up switching to natural gas, we’ll address the cost changes in a change order to include We Energies cost for constructing new gas main as well as the change in generator (whether an increase or a credit to the City). I will forward more information as I receive it. Informational only. No action was taken. CONSIDER APPROVING APPOINTMENT OF POLL WORKERS FOR 2026-2027 RESOLUTION #2025-1209 Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to accept the clerk’s appointment of poll workers for the 2026-2027 term and approve Resolution # 2025-1209. Motion carried. APPROVE SENIOR CENTER FACILITY FUNDING AGREEMENT AND TITLE III-C FUNDING AGREEMENT Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to approve the 2026 Senior Center Facility Funding Agreement from Eau Claire County for $32,000 and the ADRC Title III-C Funding Agreement for $7,758. Motion carried. APPROVE WI DNR URBANFORESTRY GRANT AGREEMENT Motion by Leslin seconded by Troxel to approve the WI DNR Urban Forestry Grant Agreement for grant# 26UF1688 in the amount of $2,128.36 for the “Rebuilding Our City Park, One Tree at a Time” project to replace trees that were lost in the 2024 tornado. Motion carried. APPROVE BARTENDER LICENSE APPLICATIONS Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to approve the bartender’s application for Ayla Bandoli, Bearded Panther and Mulligans. Motion carried. ANNOUNCE AND DISCUSS UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS a. Public Hearing to vacate streets - January 13th at 6:50 pm b. City Council Meeting – January 13th at 7:00 pm c. Augusta Industrial Development Corp – January 14th at 6:00 pm ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to adjourn the meeting. Cynthia Anderegg, City Clerk-Treasurer