City Council — Minutes

PUBLIC HEARING – CITY BUDGET FOR 2026 7:00 P.M. – AUGUSTA CITY HALL Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held in the Council Chambers of the City of Augusta, 145 W. Lincoln Street, Augusta, WI at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at which time any resident or voter of the City of Augusta will be heard in regard to the budgets for 2026. Mayor Jason TePaske called the Public Hearing to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were council members Sue Troxel, Lisa Fugett, Brian Abley, Robert Chaffee, and Brian Leslin. Also present: Gordon O’Brien, Kasandra Thompson, and Cynthia Anderegg. PUBLIC COMMENT Kim Shult commended the council for making the hard decisions of passing the Wheel Tax and adjusting the sewer utility rates. Mrs. Shults sat on a variety of committees that reviewed city goals and financial planning. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chaffee seconded by Fugett to adjourn. Motion carried. Cynthia Anderegg, Clerk SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2025 7:05 P.M. Mayor Jason TePaske called the special meeting of the Augusta City Council to order at 7:05 p.m. Present were council members Sue Troxel, Lisa Fugett, Brian Abley, Robert Chaffee, and Brian Leslin. Also present: Gordon O’Brien, Kasandra Thompson, Leslie LaRose, and Cynthia Anderegg. Absent: Scott Williamson. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Wessel seconded by Troxel to approve the agenda. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT None REVIEW BIDS AND CONSIDER AWARD FOR THE SPRING STREET SEWAGE LIFT STATION PROJECT The Spring Street Sewage Lift Station project will replace deficient sanitary sewer from Spring St. to Main St. and replace the sewer siphon across Bridge Creek. The project is expected to be funded by a $383,600 CDBG grant for lift station and sanitary sewer construction. Match funds for the CDBG grant will be provided by a CWF loan. A CWF application was submitted in September 2024 for sanitary sewer improvements. The project work will start approximately by July 31, 2026, with the substantial completion by November 30, 2026. Motion by Leslin seconded by Abley to approve the following bid proposals for the Spring Street Sewage Lift Station project: Proposal #1 Spring Steet Sewage lift Station = Winona Mechanical, Inc. (Winona, MN) $349,600.00 Proposal #2 Sewer main Modifications = Gerke Excavating, Inc. (Tomah, WI) $172,289.45 Total project cost: $521,889.45 Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: yes, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. APPROVE SENIOR CENTER FACILITY FUNDING AGREEMENT AND TITLE III-C FUNDING AGREEMENT Table until December Council meeting. Contracts have not been received as of November 13th. DISCUSS AND APPROVE GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR 2026 Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to amend the proposed 2026 General Fund Budget to decrease the library expense by $10,000 and increase financial planning expense by $10000 and to approve the 2026 General Fund budget as revised. Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: yes, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ADOPTING SEWER FUND OPERATING BUDGET FOR 2026 Motion by Chaffee seconded by Troxel to approve the 2026 Sewer Fund Operating budget. Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: yes, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ADOPTING WATER FUND OPERATING BUDGET FOR 2026 Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to approve the 2026 Water Fund Operating budget. Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: yes, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ADOPTING CAPITAL EQUIPMENT REPAIR FUND OPERATING BUDGET FOR 2026 Motion by Troxel seconded by Leslin to approve the 2026 Capital Equipment Repair Fund Operating budget. Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: yes, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. ADOPT THE 2025 LEVY AND AUTHORIZE CLERK TO CALCULATE MILL RATE Motion by Troxel seconded by Leslin to adopt the 2025 Levy in the amount of $469,980 and to authorize the Clerk to calculate the mill rate. Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: yes, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. APPROVE TAX BOND COLLECTION RESOLUTION Motion by Fugett seconded by Troxel to approve tax bond collection resolution. Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: yes, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. AUTHORIZE PLACEMENT OF DELINQUENT UTILITIES, SPECIAL ASSESSMENT CHARGES AND SPECIAL CHARGES INCLUDING EAU CLAIRE COUNTY RECYCLING CHARGE ON THE TAX ROLL Motion by Leslin seconded by Troxel to authorize placement of delinquent utilities ($74,117.08 with 10% County fee), special charges, special assessment charges ($100 lawn mowing, $320 damaged water meters, $1,750.55 Street assessment Rolling Hills Dr.), and Eau Claire County Recycling charge ($18/unit) on the tax roll. Roll call vote: Ward 1: yes, Ward 2: yes, Ward 3: yes, Ward 4: yes, Ward 5: yes. Motion carried. ANNOUNCE AND DISCUSS UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS a. Capital Improvement Plan Committee – November 20th at 6:15 pm b. Augusta Industrial Development Corp – December 2nd at 6:00 pm c. Regular December City Council meeting – December 9th at 7:00 pm ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chaffee seconded by Leslin to adjourn. Motion carried. Cynthia Anderegg, Clerk